M. Thulin (2005) Crabbea. Flora of Somalis 3: 444-447.
Plants perennial herbs, subshrubs, or shrublets. Leaves entire to slightly toothed. Inflorescences dense, 1-several flowered cymes in bracteate heads; bracts leaflike, entire, with spinescent margins or pinnately divided into filiform lobes. Calyces 5-lobed, the lobes more or less unequal; corollas 5-lobed, with subequal, rounded lobes, usually slightly 2-lipped, lower lips 3-lobed, upper lip 2-lobed; stamens 4, included; anthers 2-celled; styles terete; stigmas 1-lobed, flattened, fan-shaped. Capsules oblong to ovate, with 2-8 seeds, valves grooved on the back; seeds flattened, covered by hygroscopic hairs.
Crabbea includes about 16 species, all native in tropical and southern Africa.