Prostrate to suberect herbs, branched. Leaves usually small, oblong, sheathing at base. Inflorescence axillary or terminal, scorpioid cymes, often subtended by biseriate or irregularly congested, rarely few bracteoles. Flowers small. Sepals 3, free or subconnate at base, unequal, lanceolate, persistent. Petals 3, unequal, united below into a short tube, lobes rounded, entire, exserted. Stamens 6, all perfect, unequal, hypogynous or epipetalous; filaments filiform, usually covered with long hairs, often somewhat inflated towards the apex; anthers oblong, dithecous, laterally dehiscent. Ovary sessile, villous at least at the apex, 3-loculed with 2 ovules in each locule, one erect and the other collateral; style linear with short, terminal stigma. Capsules loculicidal, 3 chambered with 2 seeds in each locule; seeds pyramidate, rugose; embryotega circular.
Easily differentiated from Commelina Linn. by its all the 6, perfect stamens.
About 35 species, chiefly in tropical and subtropical Africa, Asia and Australia; represented in Pakistan by 2 species.
