PLANTS: Annuals.

STEMS: erect, simple or sparingly branched.

LEAVES: opposite, connected at base by a hyaline stipular shield.

FLOWERS: small in very dense, terminal and axillary clusters; calyx with 2 pairs of lobes very unlike in size and texture; corolla salverform or funnelform, with 4 spreading lobes; stamens 4, oblong or linear.

FRUIT: a 2-loculed, thin-walled, circumscissile capsule.

NOTES: Spp. 40; tropical S.Amer., W. Ind., Afr. (Greek: mitr = turban + carp = fruit).

REFERENCES: Terrell, Edward E. 1995 Rubiaceae. Houstonia. J. Ariz. - Nev. Acad. Sci. 29(l): 36.