Annual, biennial or perennial herbs, rarely subshrubs, glabrous or hairy. Leaves alternate, simple. Inflorescences panicle-, raceme-, spike- or head-like, or flowers solitary. Calyx-lobes usually 5, sometimes with reflexed appendages in between them. Corolla campanulate to almost rotate or cylindric, ± deeply 5-lobed. Ovary ± inferior, 3–5-locular; ovules numerous. Fruit capsule dehiscing by lateral pores or valves. Seeds numerous, ± elliptic in outline. Worldwide: 300 species in north temperate regions, especially the Mediterranean area, with one species in Northeastern Africa as far as Rwanda. Zimbabwe: 1 cultivated taxon. |
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