| Character | Subg. Monnina | Subg. Pterocarya | Subg. Monninopsis | |||
| Habit | Shrub | Mainly herb | Herb | |||
| Extra-floral nectary | Absent | Present/Absent | Absent | |||
| Inflorescence | Condensed | Lax | Sublax | |||
| Flower color | Dark purple | Mainly light purple | Pinkish | |||
| Posterior sepals | Free or connate | Free | Connate | |||
| Posterior petal | Trilobed | Trilobed | Tricleft | |||
| Staminal sheath | Apically free to connate | Apically free to connate | Apically connate | |||
| Style | Thick, without lobes | Thick with lobes | Thin, without lobes | |||
| Fruit | Mainly drupe | Mainly samara | Drupe or samara | |||
| Distribution | Endemic to Andes | Low Andes/Southern S.A. | Endemic to northern Brazil |