Herbs or subshrubs, perennial [annual]. Stems erect. Leaves alternate, petiolate; blade linear. Inflorescences terminal, many-flowered spikes. Flowers bisexual; tepals 5, distinct, scarious, usually glabrous; filaments connate basally into tube; anthers 2- or 4-locular; pseudostaminodes 2-lobed, alternating with filaments; ovules 2–several; style persistent, 0.5 mm; stigmas [2–]3, filiform. Utricles cylindric-ovoid, membranous, dehiscence centrally circumscissile. Seeds 2–8, black, flattened.

Distribution

Introduced; s Africa.

Discussion

Species ca. 5 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

Townsend, C. C. 1982. A new species of African Celosia and a new conspectus of Hermbstaedtia. Kew Bull. 37: 81–90.

Lower Taxa

Hermbstaedtia odorata