Description
Annual or perennial hairy herbs (in Mal.);
Leaves decussate.
Flowers either 2 in a verticillaster, secund, forming terminal and axillary raceme-like inflorescences, or 6-18 in a verticillaster forming terminal and axillary cylindric thyrses.
Stamens 4, exserted, two lower ones longest;
Distribution
Asia-Tropical, the Mediterranean area present, worldwide present
About 100 spp., worldwide, many in the Mediterranean area; in Malesia: 3 spp. in the montane zone.
Citation
LINNE 1753: Sp. Pl.: 562
BRIQ. 1895 – In: E. & P., Nat. Pfl. Fam. 4: 210
BTH. 1876 – In: B. & H., Gen. Pl. 2: 1221
KENG 1969 – In: Gard. Bull. Sing.: 175