M. Thulin (1993) Resedaceae, Flora of Somalia 1:76-81
Plants herbs or shrubs. Leaves alternate or fasciculate, very rarely opposite, simple, often lobed to odd-pinnately divided; stipules small, gland-like. Inflorescences terminal spikes or racemes. Flowers usually bisexual, rarely unisexual, usually bulaterally symmetric; sepals (4-)6(-8), persistent or not; petals usually (4-)6(-8), sometimes missing,small, usually unequal, usually deciduous, laciniate, often with a membranous appendage at the base; intrastaminal disc usually present, often extended on the adaxial side; stamens (3-)16-22(-50); anthers 2-celled, introrse; ovaries superior, sessile or stipitate, of (2-)3-6(-6) united or free carpels; ovules 1 to numerous, on parietal placentas or basal. Fruits usuallyopen or closed capsules, indehiscent, rarely baccate or with free follicles; seeds usually numerous, reniform to ovoid or subglobose and grooved, without endopserms but perisperm present; embryo curved.
The family Resedaceae includes six genera and about 60 species, It is mainly Mediterranean in its distribution but is also known from arid parts of tropical Africa, South Africa, and Arabai to northwest India as well as in the southwestern United States and Mexico.