Leptomeria

Shrubs or subshrubs, glabrous, some appearing leafless; branchlets terete to angular, usually with longitudinal ridges. Leaves scale-like and caducous or (not in Victoria) persistent and well-developed. Inflorescence a simple (or rarely compound) raceme or a corymb, inserted laterally or less often terminally on the branchlets. Flowers bisexual, obscurely to (not in Victoria) distinctly pedicellate, each subtended by a single caducous or (not in Victoria) persistent bract; tepals 5, rarely 4 or 6, thin or fleshy, the apex incurved, variously thickened and hooded; stamens inserted at the base of the tepals, filaments very short, anther locules obscurely or obviously 2-lobed, connective prominent; disc shallowly to markedly lobed; ovary inferior, 1-locular, obscurely 2–5-chambered at the base, ovules 5 or rarely 4, style very short, stigma lobed. Drupe dry (not in Victoria) or fleshy, crowned with persistent perianth.