Genus: ± 200 species.
Botany: large herbs, soft-stemmed subshrubs or shrubs
Region: Central America, South America, West Indies.
Taxonomy: Gasteranthus was previously included in Besleria; they have been separated on the basis of stomata and fruit characters.
Gasteranthus: aggregated stomata, fruit fleshy capsules.
Besleria: scattered stomata, fruit berry.