Description:

• Erect annual herbs
• Leaves opposite, entire, linear to oblong
• Inflorescences elongate or subglobose, densely pilose spike-like thyrses terminal on stem and branches, shortly or long-pedunculate or subtended by 1 or 2 reduced leaves; each bract subtending a bibracteolate partial inflorescence consisting mostly of a triad of a central bisexual flower and 2 lateral modified sterile flowers consisting of slender, finally spinous, processes; partial inflorescences falling as a unit complete with bracteoles; bracts persistent on inflorescence axis
• Tepals 5, narrow, 3- or 5-nerved, free, oblong or oblong-lanceolate, mucronate, with broad, membranous margins, only a narrow central section coloured
• Stamens 5; filaments fused into a cup at base, usually alternating with very short, blunt pseudostaminodes; anthers 2-thecous
• Ovary scarcely compressed, considerably pilose above and with a distinct horn on one side below its apex; ovule solitary, suspended from a basal funicle; style simple; stigma capitate
• Capsule ± compressed, irregularly ruptured below by developing seed, rounded apex densely pilose, gibbous to one side of style with a short horn-like process
• Seed suborbicular; perisperm/endosperm copious

Nomenclature:

• Kyphocarpa (Fenzl) Lopr.
  • Lopriore: 42 (1899)
  • Baker & Clarke: 52 (1909) as Cyphocarpa
  • Cooke & Wright: 414 (1910)
  • Podlech: 17 (1966)
  • Townsend: 62 (1988)
  • Townsend: 83 (1993)
• Sericocoma Fenzl sect. Kyphocarpa Fenzl
  • Fenzl: 323 (1843)

Distribution & Notes:

• Global: Species probably 4, in south tropical and southern Africa
• Southern Africa: Species ± 4, widespread in warm, dry areas, Namibia, Botswana, the northern provinces, Free State, Swaziland, KwaZulu-Natal and Northern Cape