Annual, erect, pubescent, 25 cm-1 m tall herbs. Leaves very variable, 1-5 cm long, 0.7-4.5 cm broad, shallowly cordate-rounded at base, acute-acuminate at apex, serrate, lower ones ovate or somewhat orbicular, not lobed, upper ones usually 3-5 fid to partite with rounded sinuses, sometimes linear, lanceolate or lyrate, simple hairy on both sides, lower side also mixed with stellate hairs; stipules linear, 2-4 mm long, with ciliate margin, petiole 1-3.5 cm long, usually with short simple hairs. Flowers axillary, solitary or in terminal racemes by reduction of leaves; pedicel equal to longer than petiole, pubescent, articulate near the apex. Epicalyx segments absent or rarely represented by minute teeth. Calyx free below the middle, 3-5 mm long, in fruit up to 10 mm long, pubescent without, glabrous within; lobes lanceolate, 1-2 mm broad. Corolla c. 2 cm across, white-pale yellow; petals obovate, 5-10 mm long, 4-6 mm broad. Staminal column pink. shorter than or equalling the petals. Ovary ovoid, 2 mm across. Capsule oblong or ovoid, beaked, slightly hairy, c. 1 cm long, 5-7 mm across. Seeds reniform, 1.5-2 mm across, black, minutely hairy.

Type: Comm. Soc. Reg. Sc. Goett. 6:20 t. 1.

Distribution: Tropical Africa, Madagascar, S., S.E. and Central Asia.