Aromatic perennial herbs, subshrubs or shrubs. Leaves opposite, entire; margin thickened. Inflorescence a thyrse, sometimes the cymes reduced to single flowers; bracts similar to stem leaves but becoming smaller in upper part of stem. Calyx 5-lobed, weakly zygomorphic to strongly 2-lipped. Corolla 2-lipped; posterior lip emarginate; anterior lip 3-lobed, almost flat. Stamens 4, ascending under posterior lip. Ovaryy 4-lobed; style gynobasic. Nutlets matt. Worldwide: C. 50 species from Europe, Asia and Africa. Malawi: 2 taxa. |
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