Torenia

Annual, sometimes aquatic, herbs. Stems 4-angled. Leaves opposite, decussate, the leaf venation pinnate. Flowers axillary, usually borne 2-6 together in fascicles or on minute branches, sometimes solitary. Bracts present, linear. Calyx 2-lipped and 5-lobed, prominently winged along the veins in fruit. Corolla 2-lipped and 4-lobed; tube cylindric below, slightly wider above; upper lip entire; lower lip larger with 3 subequal lobes. Stamens 4, fertile, didynamous. Nectary present, prominent, saucer-shaped. Ovary 2-locular, with hairs at the apex; locules with unicellular hairs inside; ovules many. Fruit a septicidal or poricidal capsule. Seeds numerous, small, with thickening of some epidermis cell walls.

Torenia is a genus of plants now classified in the family Linderniaceae. Torenia has also been classified in the figwort family Scrophulariaceae. Often called wishbone flowers, bluewings; in Hawaii nanioola'a or ola'a beauty, some species are grown as garden plants. Many F1 and F2 Torenia hybrids have been hybridized in the last 30 years. Colors can range from white with yellow throats to violet, blue, cobalt, lavender and purple.