Involucel none. Ovary of 5–20 or more carpels, closely united in a circle round a central torus; ovules 3–9 in each carpel. Stigmas capitate. Fruit of numerous follicular, membranous, 3–6 seeded carpels, dehiscing by the ventral suture and sub-persistent. Herbs, shrubby plants or tall shrubs, common throughout the tropics, the whole plant generally clothed with soft, velvetty hairs, sometimes also tomentose and stellate-hairy. Leaves on long petioles, cordate, sub-entire or angular. Flowers axillary, yellow or orange. Distinguished from Sida as well by habit, as by the numerous ovules and seeds.