Sep erect, saccate at base; pet with slender claw evidently longer than the blade; ovary linear, gradually tapering into the slender style; ovules numerous; frs elongate, slightly constricted at short intervals, transversely septate at the constrictions, prolonged into the indurate, subulate style, at maturity breaking transversely into 2-seeded joints; herbs with purple, white or yellow fls. 13, Mediterranean and Near East.
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.