Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Erect or ascending annual or perennial herbs, rarely shrubs, pubescent with simple or stellate hairs.

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Lower surfaces conspicuously glandular–dotted. Margins dentate–serrate, often with 2 marginal basal extrafloral nectaries. Petiolate or sessile. Stipules present.

Flowers: Flowers solitary in the leaf axils. Flowers bisexual (perfect). heterostylous or homostylous, pedicels adnate to petioles, with 2 apical bracteoles. Calyx 5-lobe, sepals at least 1/3 connate. Corolla of 5 petals; petals obovate, caducous, claw pubescent, yellow or white [salmon, pink, orange, or red], sometimes with dark basal spot. Stamens 5, alternate with the petals; anthers dithecal, opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary superior to partly inferior, 3-carpellate, l-celled, placentation parietal; ovules (3-)numerous per placenta, anatropous; ityles 3; stigmas often fringed or brush-like.

Fruit: Capsules broadly ovoid; dehiscent by 3 valves to near base; apex of valves recurved. Seeds globose to oblong; often curved; reticulate; aril unilateral.

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range: