Information

Herbs, annual. Roots thin. Leaves spirally arranged; blade occasionally sessile [usually petiolate], glaucous. Inflorescences terminal or terminal and axillary, 1[--several] elongate cyme[s], [occasionally axillary and perforating sheaths], subtended by spathaceous bract; bract leaflike; bracteoles persistent. Flowers bisexual [bisexual and staminate], bilaterally symmetric; pedicels well developed; sepals distinct, subequal; petals distinct, unequal, not clawed, proximal petal small [large], distal 2 blue or blue-violet [white to pink], equal, large; stamens 6, all fertile, polymorphic; proximal 3 stamens long, lateral filaments bearded; medial glabrous, anthers large; distal 3 stamens short, filaments densely bearded, anthers small; filaments connate basally; ovary 3-locular; ovules 2--several per locule, 1-seriate. Capsules 3-valved, 3-locular. Seeds 2--several per locule; hilum linear; embryotega lateral. x = 13, 14, 16, 17.