Citation: L., Sp. Pl. 671 (1753).

Derivation: Octavius Horatianus, a Roman physician, gave this name to some plants in the Cruciferae.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: None

Description:
Herbaceous shrubs with erect branches; leaves alternate, palmately compound, petiolate and without stipules.

Inflorescence a terminal raceme usually with many flowers and leaf-like bracts sessile or petiolate; sepals 4 of equal size; petals 4, of about equal size but often irregularly arranged; stamens free, 10 or more, exserted, with filaments straight in bud; ovary elongate, with a subsessile terminal stigma, sessile.

Fruit (siliqua) dehiscing by 2 valves thus exposing the replum with seeds on two parietal placentas.

Distribution:  A genus of about 150 species found mainly in tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available