Annual or perennial herbs with entire, opposite leaves. Inflorescence terminal on the stems and branches. Bracts persistent. Fertile flowers in a group of 3, the outer pair with bracteoles and subtended laterally by 2 modified sterile flowers consisting of a number of strongly hooked spines. Bracteoles sometimes with a hooked awn. Perianth segments 5. Stamens 5, alternating with pseudostaminodes. Fruit a thin-walled capsule. Worldwide: 25 species in the tropics Zambia: 5 taxa. |
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| Species | FZ divisions | Content |
| cylindrica Moq. | N | Description, Image |
| divulsa Suess. | N | |
| orthacantha (Hochst. ex Asch.) Schinz | C,S | Description, Image |
| prostrata (L.) Blume var. prostrata | B | |
| uncinulata (Schrad.) Schinz | N,E | Description, Image |