On Thursday, July 14th, we will release a major upgrade to the VicFlora infrastructure. Some downtime will
be unavoidable, but we will try to keep it to a minimum.
Taxonomic status:Accepted
Occurrence status:Present
Establishment means:Introduced
Perennial shrubs (rarely vines). Leaves usually opposite, simple, entire or toothed; stipules small, usually caducous. Inflorescences racemose, paniculate or flowers solitary and axillary; bracts leaf-like. Flowers usually actinomorphic; hypanthium usually much prolonged; sepals 4, petaloid, caducous; petals 4; stamens 8; ovary 4-celled. Fruit a pendulous berry, indehiscent; seeds few to numerous.
About 100 species, mainly from Central and South America, but also New Zealand and Tahiti; 1 species naturalised in south-eastern Australia.