Shrubs or perennial herbs arising from a woody base or rhizome. Leaves alternate, rarely opposite. Inflorescences consisting of bracteate few-many-flowered heads. Flowers bisexual, 4-5-merous. Calyx-tube cylindric, usually articulated above the ovary, lobes coloured. Petals alternating with the calyx lobes, sometimes 0. Stamens in 2 whorls in the throat of the calyx tube. Fruit dry, small. Derivation of name: named after the Greek city Knidos Worldwide: 140 species in tropical and South Africa, Madagascar extending to Sri Lanka Malawi: 10 taxa. |
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