5473.010 Hionanthera A. Fern. & Diniz

Annual or perennial, terrestrial or aquatic, glabrous herbs. Leaves decussate, sessile, linear widened at base, canaliculate above. Flowers (3)4(5)-merous, in axillary, sessile, many-flowered dense dichasia surrounded by widened bases of leaves; outer bracteoles as long as glomerules, inner ones many, subulate, membranous, whitish. Calyx campanulate, scarious, 8-nerved below, 4-nerved above the point of origin of the stamens. Petals persistent, corrugated. Fruit a capsule with a thin membrane, dehiscing irregularly. Seeds few, dark violet.

Worldwide: 2 species in tropical and subtropical Africa.

Zimbabwe: 1 taxon.