Metrosideros

Shrubs or trees, sometimes woody lianes. Leaves opposite, petiolate; bud scales usually present. Inflorescence a terminal or axillary, pedunculate cyme, sometimes reduced to a single flower. Flowers red, pink or white, rarely yellow; sepals 5, imbricate, free; petals oblong to orbicular, often caducous; stamens numerous, usually in whorl, much longer than petals; anthers versatile; ovary semi-inferior to inferior, usually 3-celled. Fruit a loculicidal capsule, included in, or exserted from the hypanthium; seeds numerous, linear or filiform.