[2] They are native to sandy flats or stony slopes in the drier bush regions of Africa, India and the Mascarene Islands.

[3] The majority of species occur in frost-free, summer rainfall regions of southern Africa,[4] and may be found from low to medium altitudes.

They have a diverse habit, forming either small, scrambling herbs or large, robust shrubs.

[4] Their dilated, tubular flowers are solitary or on short racemes growing from the leaf axils, and vary from white to mauve or red in colour.

The small, ellipsoid fruit capsules explosively release two to four flat seeds (two ovules per ovary cell) when moisture is absorbed by their hygroscopic hairs.