Description of the family:
Herbs, shrubs or trees, often hispid or scabrid. Stipules 0. Leaves alternate, rarely opposite or subopposite, simple. Inflorescence usually a cyme, which is often scorpioidal, sometimes a panicle or raceme. Flowers bisexual or unisexual, actinomorphic or sometimes zygomorphic. Calyx usually 5-lobed. Corolla 5-lobed. Stamens (or staminodes) as many as corolla lobes. Ovary superior, entire or 4-lobed; 2(-4)-locular. Style 1, terminal or gynobasic. Fruit mostly consisting of 4 nutlets, less often 1 nutlet or a drupe.

Worldwide:
130 genera and 2,300 species, cosmopolitan, but especially common in the Mediterranean area and E Asia.

Zimbabwe:
9 genera and 37 taxa.

  • Amsinckia Lehm.
  • Coldenia L.
  • Cordia L.
  • Cynoglossum L.
  • Echium L.
  • Ehretia P. Browne
  • Heliotropium L.
  • Lithospermum L.
  • Trichodesma R. Br