Annual herbs. Stipules
small or 0, often caducous. Leaves basal or in whorls on the stems, glabrous, entire. Inflorescence cymose, laxly dichasial or in the form of an umbel. Flowers bisexual, greenish or whitish, inconspicuous. Perianth
segments 5, free. Stamens 3-5, rarely more. Ovary superior, of 3-5 united carpels, 3-5-locular. Fruit a loculicidal capsule. Seeds
many, flattened. Worldwide: c. 35 species in tropical and warm areas Mozambique: 3 taxa. |
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