Much-branched, heath-like,
perennial herbs, shrubs or subshrubs. Leaves usually small,
narrow, usually alternate, rarely opposite, often fasciculate. Flowers sessile or shortly pedicellate in terminal, spherical or
elongate, spikes or racemes, solitary or aggregated into panicles or corymbs. Bracts present. Calyx (2-)3-5-lobed. Corolla tubular, 5-lobed. Stamens 4, didynamous, inserted in or at base
of throat. Ovary 2-locular; style thickened or 2-3-dentate at apex. Capsule ovoid, spherical or cylindric. Comment: We follow genus and species concepts presented in the revision by Hilliard in The tribe Selagineae (Scrophulariaceae) (1999), which are considerably different from the taxonomy used by Philcox in Flora Zambesiaca volume 8 part 2 (1990). Worldwide: 150 spp., mainly South African with some tropical. Malawi: 5 taxa. |
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