Trees or shrubs; branches whorled, mostly 4 or 5 together; latex. Leaves whorled, rarely opposite; at end of branchlets; lamina glossy; numerous lateral veins. Inflorescence terminal; cymes usually 1-5 in thyrses, or compound umbels. Flowers white, yellow or pink; lobes basally connate, corolla salver-form, tube cylindric. Fruit paired follicles, free or connate. Seeds oblong or linear; apices long-bearded. Derivation of name: Named for Professor Charles Alston (1716 - 1760) of Edinburgh Worldwide: c. 60 species in Africa, Central America, China, Indomalesia and the western Pacific Zimbabwe: 2 cultivated taxa. |
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