M. Thulin (2005) Ecbolium. Flora of Somalia 3: 404-406
Plants shrubs or perennial herbs. Leaves simple, entire. Inflorescences dense, terminal spikes; bracts usually soon falling, not pungent; bracteoles 2, narrow. Calyces deeply 5-lobed, lobes unqual; corollas yellowish to bluish green or sometimes white, mauve, dull blue or pale purple, 2-lipped, lower lips 3-lobed, upper lips linear lanceolate, 2-lobed; stamens 2, held erect under the upper lips; anthers 2-celled, curved, parallel to the filament; ovaries 2-celled with 2 ovules per cell; styles filiform, grlabrous or more or less hairy; stigmas 2-lobed, lobes equal, elliptic. Capsules club-shaped, 2-4-seeded; seeds flattened, smooth to densely tuberculate.
Ecbolium includes 22 species. They are native in eastern and southern Africa, Madagascar, the Comorro Islands, the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula, India, and Malaysia.