Description:

• Low-growing annual herbs, diffusely to densely branched, cano-tomentose, sometimes with taproot
• Leaves in groups of 3 at each node, these groups alternate on stem with petioles connate at the very base, crenate, serrate or pinnately lobed; stipules 0
• Flowers solitary, ebracteate
• Perianth: tube cup-shaped, concrescent with carpels in fruit, surrounded by 2 or 3 series of inconspicuous spinules, ebracteolate; lobes oblong, with triangular apex
• Petals large, with convolute aestivation, arising at mouth of perianth tube, spreading
• Stamens arising in throat of perianth tube
• Gynoecium of 10 carpels adhering to each other and to perianth tube, verticillate; styles 10, free, subterete, persistent in fruit
• Fruit dry, ± depressed-discoid, 10-locular, indehiscent, invested by enlarged spiny perianth tube developing a circular wing and crowned by marcescent perianth lobes; spines in 3 series, with long and short ones intermixed and tips either straight or incurved
• Seed solitary and horizontal in each locule

Nomenclature:

• Neuradopsis Bremek. & Oberm.
  • Bremekamp & Obermeyer: 415 (1935)
  • Friedrich-Holzhammer: 1 (1968)
  • Mendes: 8 (1978)

Distribution & Notes:

• Southern Africa: Species 3, Namibia, Botswana and Northern Cape