Herbs, sometimes woody at base. Leaves petiolate. Inflorescence a raceme, terminal and axillary. Flowers bisexual, ± actinomorphic. Sepals 4, free Stamens 4. Ovary with 1 carpel and 1 stigma. Fruit spherical, usually red. Seed 1. Derivation of name: named after August Rivinus (1652-1723), German physiologist, professor of botany at Leipzig. Worldwide: 1 species from S USA to tropical America Zimbabwe: 1 cultivated taxon. |