Greek karyon — nut, pteron — wing, referring to the winged fruit.

Deciduous shrubs and herbs. Leaves opposite, simple, ovate to linear, entire or toothed, aromatic when crushed. Flower clusters axillary or terminal, rarely solitary, flat-topped or branched. Flowers blue or lavender. Corolla with 5 lobes and a short tube. Stamens 4, protruding, attached above the centre of the tube. Fruit forming 4 nutlets.

Seed or softwood cuttings.

Flowers irregular, fruit small, dry.

7 species from E Asia.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Verbenaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.