Shrubs, trees or rhizomatous, xerophytic perennials. Leaves alternate, entire, with parallel venation, stiff, often succulent. Flowers crowded in dense racemes or panicles, ± actinomorphic, bisexual, hypogynous; pedicels with an often disc-like articulation. Perianth segments in two series of 3 each, petaloid. Stamens in two series of 3, exserted. Ovary superior, 3-locular; ovule 1 per loculus, axile. Fruit a berry. Seeds 1-3, dirty-white. Worldwide: 6 genera and 220 species, south-western N America and tropical zones, especially Africa. |
No image yet
|