Monsonia

Monsonia consists of herbs or undershrubs often with simple stem from woody rootstock or deep tap root; leaves toothed or divided; flowers regular, petals 5, separate, tip broad, blunt or slightly notched, stamens in 5 groups with 3 stamens in each, one longer than others, ovary 5 lobed; fruit beaked. ==Taxonomy==

, the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families accepts 27 species: • Monsonia angustifolia E.Mey. ex A.Rich. • Monsonia attenuata Harv. • Monsonia biflora DC. • Monsonia brevirostrata R.Knuth • Monsonia burkeana Planch. ex Harv. • Monsonia deserticola Dinter ex R.Knuth • Monsonia drudeana Schinz • Monsonia emarginata (L.f.) L'Hér. • Monsonia galpinii Schltr. ex R.Knuth • Monsonia glauca R.Knuth • Monsonia grandifolia R.Knuth • Monsonia heliotropioides (Cav.) Boiss. • Monsonia ignea Schinz • Monsonia ignorata Merxm. & A.Schreib. • Monsonia lanuginosa R.Knuth • Monsonia lavrani (Halda) C.C.Walker • Monsonia longipes R.Knuth • Monsonia luederitziana Focke & Schinz • Monsonia natalensis R.Knuth • Monsonia nivea (Decne.) Webb • Monsonia parvifolia Schinz • Monsonia praemorsa E.Mey. ex R.Knuth • Monsonia senegalensis Guill. & Perr. • Monsonia speciosa L. • Monsonia transvaalensis R.Knuth • Monsonia trilobata Kers • Monsonia umbellata Harv. ==Distribution==

Distributed in Africa, Western Asia and East India, approximately 40 species, approximately 21 in South Africa. ==Gallery==

File:Monsonia emarginata.jpg|Monsonia emarginata File:Monsonia attenuata, Walter Sisulu NBT, b.jpg|Monsonia attenuata File:Monsonia umbellata IMG 8248.JPG|Monsonia umbellata File:Seed monsonia praemorsa.jpg|Monsonia praemorsa seeds. File:Monsonia angustifolia seeds, by Omar Hoftun.jpg|Monsonia angustifolia seeds. ==References==