Plants herbs or shrubs. Leaves entire, simple. Flowers in axillary or terminal spikes or clusters; bracts and bracteoles present, sometimes enlarged. Calyces 4-5-lobed; corollas 2-lipped, upper lip usually shallowly 2-lobed, lower lip 3-lobes; stamens 2; anthers 2-celled, one cell above the other, lower cell usually tailed. Capsules 2-4 seeded; seeds smooth or variously ornamented.
Justica includes about 600 species, most of which are tropical.
