Gilbert, M.G. (1993) Loasaceae in Flora of Somalia 1: 37
Plants usually hebs, rarely woody, hairs mostly bristley, sometimes barbed and more or less stinging. Leaves withou stipules, alternate or opposite, entire or divided. Inflorescences often leaf-opposed, usually cymose, sometimes capitate or pf solitary flowers. Flowers radially symmetric, 4-5-merous; sepals jpined into a calyx tube which is more or less adnate to the effectively inferior ovary, often ribbed, sometimes spiral, lobes twisted or imbricate; petals inserted on the calyces, induplicate-valvate, sometimes alternating with petaloid scales (which may be sterile stamen bundles); stamens usually many, free or united into bundles opposite the petals; staminodes aometimes present; ovaries more or less inferior, 1-3-celled, with 1-many ovules; placentation parietal or at the top of the ovaries; styles 1. Fruits 2-3-valved capsules, often ribbed, sometimes spiral, rarely indehiscent; seeds often minute.
The family Loasaceae has about 15 genera and 230-259 species. All but one of the genera are restricted to the Americas. The exception, Kissenia has two species, one in the Horn of Africa, the other in Namibia and the Cape Province of South Africa.