Herbs or shrubs. Leaves generally opposite or whorled, simple, entire or toothed; stipules wanting. Flowers usually irregular, hermaphrodite, in axillary or terminal racemes or cymes, or solitary. Calyx inferior or semi-superior, 5-partite; segments valvate. Corolla gamopetalous, usually irregular; tube long or short; limb more or less oblique, lobes 4–5, imbricate. Stamens 2 or 4, inserted on the tube of the corolla; anthers 2-celled. Ovary superior or more rarely inferior, 1-celled; style linear; stigma capitate or 2-lobed; ovules many, anatropous, on two opposite entire or bifid parietal placentas. Fruit capsular or berried, dehiscent or indehiscent. Seeds numerous, small; albumen present or absent; embryo straight.

A tolerably large order, almost wholly confined to tropical regions. Genera 70; species under 800. The order includes many handsome greenhouse plants, especially of the genera Gloxinia and Achimenes, but otherwise its economic-properties are unimportant. The single New Zealand genus is endemic.