Phrymaceae - Lopseed family

Perennial or annual herbs (in ours), rarely aquatic; stems often 4-angled. Leaves simple, opposite or alternate; margins entire or toothed; sometimes gland-dotted; venation pinnate to palmate. Inflorescence of solitary, axillary flowers (in ours), cymes, spikes or racemes. Flowers bisexual; usually zygomorphic. Sepals fused, persistent. Petals fused, tubular, 2-lipped, usually 2 upper and 3 lower or 5 equal. Ovary superior; carpels fused. Stigmas often sensitive, closing on contact with a pollinator. Fruit a loculicidal capsule (in ours), rarely septicidal, or an achene or rarely a berry.

Worldwide: 16 genera and c. 220 species in the New World, Africa, Asia and Australasia.

Zimbabwe: 1 genus and 1 taxon.