Annual or perennial herbs, subshrubs or shrubs. Inflorescence a spike, raceme or panicle; flowers in
2-many-flowered whorls; bracts usually reduced, rarely similar to the upper leaves. Calyx 2-lipped; upper lip entire or 3-toothed, the
central tooth often shorter or obsolete; lower lip equally 3-toothed, longer than the upper. Corolla 2-lipped; tube usually
enlarging towards the throat; upper lip usually longer than lower, usually concave and ± flattened; lower lip
spreading, 3-lobed, the central lobe usually much larger than the 2 lateral. Stamens 2, ascending; staminodes 2, small and usually inconspicuous. Style included or exserted.
Readily recognised by the combination of ascending stamens and the number of stamens (2). Worldwide: 900 species, from the tropics to temperate zones and especially in America, Sino-Himalayas and SW Asia Botswana: 3 taxa. The larvae of the following species of insect eat species of this genus: |
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