Citation: L., Sp. Pl. 598 (1753).

Derivation: Latin scutella, a small shield; alluding to the small shield-like protrusion on the calyx.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: None

Description:
Perennial herbs with quadrangular branches, with antrorse simple hairs; leaves petiolate, opposite, crenate-serrate.

Inflorescence a thyrse with sessile part-inflorescences each with 1 or 2 pedicellate flowers subtended by leaf-like bracts with internodes between flowering nodes elongated; sepals unequally connate, 2-lipped but neither lip lobed, with a semicircular fold protruding from the posterior side, with simple antrorse hairs and sessile glands; corolla 2-lipped with antrorse posterior lip with 3 subequal lobes, with the anterior lip broadly spathulate and vaguely 3-lobed; stamens 4 fertile, of unequal size, inserted below the throat of the corolla tube; anthers with 2 cells fertile and slightly diverging, with longer stamens exserted beyond the posterior lip; ovary deeply 4-lobed with each 1ocule with 1 basal ovule, with a gynobasic style and with an often unevenly 2-lobed stigma.

Fruit usually with 4 mericarps each almost spherical but tapering towards the small basal attachment scar.

Distribution:  A cosmopolitan genus, except for southern Africa, of about 300 species; 2 species native to Australia.

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available