Description:

• Shrubs, erect or scrambling, spinous
• Leaves rather coriaceous, opposite and decussate
• Spines straight, usually 2 in axil of each leaf
• Inflorescence axillary, with clustered and sessile flowers (then usually female) or in short spikes which are sometimes branched at base, paniculate, with the sessile flowers in pairs at intervals on rachides (then usually male)
• Calyx campanulate, 4-lobed and slightly 2-lipped
• Petals 4, arising at base of ovary, eventually longer than calyx and reflexing over it
• Male flower with 4 stamens alternating with petals; anthers eventually exserted; rudimentary ovary on a small disc in centre of stamens
• Female flower with 4 rudimentary, sterile stamens appressed to lower half of ovary; ovary eventually exserted from calyx, narrowing very slightly in upper half and crowned with subsessile stigma, (1)2(3)-locular, with 1 or 2 erect ovules in each locule
• Fruit globose, usually 1-seeded
• Seeds compressed, exalbuminous; cotyledons cordate; radicle straight
• x = 11 (1 report)

Nomenclature:

• Azima Lam.
  • Lamarck: 343 (1783)
  • Verdoorn: 129 (1963)
  • Friedrich-Holzhammer: 1 (1968)
  • Vickery: 375 (1983)
• Monetia L'Hér.
  • L'Héritier: t. 1 (1785)

Distribution & Notes:

• Global: Species 4, Africa, Madagascar, Asia
• Southern Africa: Species 1: Azima tetracantha Lam., Namibia, Mpumalanga, Swaziland, KwaZulu-Natal, Western and Eastern Cape