Thulin, M. (1995) Velloziaceae in Flora of Somalia 4: 76-77
Plants perennial herbs or shrubs; stems covered with persistent, fibrous leaf bases. Leaves clustered, narrow, grasslike. Inflorescences of solitary flowers. Flowers conspicuous, usually bisexual, radially symmetric; tepals 6, petal-like, equal or almost so, more or less united at the base; stamens 6 or, less commonly, many; filaments free or adnate to the tepals, sometimes flattened and forming a corona-like ring; anthers with 2 thecae, longitudinally dehiscent; ovaries inferior, 3-celled; styles slender; ovules numerous, in many rows. Fruits tardily dehiscent capsules; seeds with a small embryo, with endosperm.
The family Velloziaceae includes 5-6 genera and about 300 species.