Plants annual or perennial herbs. Leaves simple. Inflorescences various. Flowers sessile. borne singly between 1 pair of bracts and 1 pair of bracteoles; calyces with 5 equal lobes; corollas 2-lipped, lips widely separate, of 2+3 lobes; corolla tubes narrow, twisted 180 degrees; stamens 2, exserted; anthers 1-celled. Capsules 4-seeded; seeds smooth tosomewhat tuberculate.
Hypoestes includes about 150 species. It is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas aorund the Indian Ocean and some adjacent regions [Wikipedia]