Citation: Forsskål, Fl. Aegypt.-Arab. 64 (1775).

Derivation: After Mt Melhan in Yemen, from where the type species was described.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: None

Description:
Evergreen herbs or shrubs; leaves with caducous stipules, serrate, petiolate.

Flowers bisexual, axillary, or in few-flowered axillary inflorescences; bracts apparently 0; bracteoles sometimes present; epicalyx of 3 persistent segments; calyx sepaloid, divided almost to the base into 5 segments; petals longer than the calyx, flat, petaloid; stamens 5, united in a short cup at the base, alternating with 5 larger staminodes, extrorse, with short filaments; ovary sessile, 5-celled, with several ovules in each cell, hairy; style 5-branched, the lobes stigmatic along the inner surfaces.

Capsule opening loculicidally in 5 valves; seeds albuminous, with narrow curved cotyledons and an inferior radicle, not carunculate.

Distribution:  About 60 species in warm parts of Africa, Madagascar and India; 2 species native to Australia.

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available