Annual or perennial herbs or subshrubs. Inflorescence of few-many-flowered, often subspherical, whorls; bracts leaf-like; bracteoles linear, often bristle-like. Calyx tubular, 10-11-nerved, with 5-11 equal or unequal teeth. Corolla 2-lipped, white; upper lip shorter than the lower; lower lip 3-lobed, the middle lobe longest. Stamens 4, included in the corolla tube and held together by intertwining hairs.
Similar to the genus Leucas and differing in the stamens which are included in the corolla tube and held together by intermingling hairs and by the upper lip of the corolla which is shorter than the lower lip (usually longer in Leucas). Worldwide: 8 species in tropical and South Africa Mozambique: 3 taxa. |
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