Chloopsis Blume; Flueggea Richard (1807), not Willdenow (1806); Mondo Adanson, nom. rej.; Slateria Desvaux.

Herbs perennial, rhizomatous, sometimes stoloniferous. Roots occasionally woody or with fleshy, tuberous part near tip. Stem suberect or prostrate, usually simple, elongate or short, sometimes indistinct. Leaves basal or cauline, alternate, tufted or scattered, sessile or petiolate, linear to oblong, usually whitish streaked abaxially. Scape arising from a leaf axil. Inflorescence a raceme or reduced panicle, rarely a panicle, several to many flowered; bracts small. Flowers bisexual, campanulate to opening flat, usually nodding; pedicel articulate. Tepals 6, free, deciduous or persistent in fruit. Stamens 6, inserted at base of tepals; filaments usually very short; anthers basifixed, sometimes connate. Ovary semi-inferior, 3-loculed; ovules 2(--6) per locule, basal. Style 1, columnar; stigma capitate, small. Fruit bursting irregularly at an early stage and exposing young seeds. Seeds usually blue at maturity, berrylike.

Several species with elongate stems bearing distant tufts of leaves were recently described. They have not yet been well studied, and are here treated provisionally as different species, although future research is needed to clarify their exact circumscription.

About 65 species: warm-temperate, subtropical, and tropical Asia; 47 species (38 endemic) in China.

(Authors: Chen Xinqi (陈心启 Chen Sing-chi); Minoru N. Tamura)