Description: Perennial shrubs, monoecious or dioecious. Stems erect or procumbent, usually rigid, often ± leafless.
Leaves alternate, margins often revolute, sometimes toothed; stipules small.
Flowers clustered at nodes, surrounded by small brown bracts; males often numerous, females solitary or surrounded by a few male flowers. Male flowers with 4 or 5 perianth segments; stamens 10 or fewer, free. Female flowers with 5 perianth segments, ovule 1 in each loculus; styles 3, shortly 2-lobed.
Capsule with 6 erect teeth near apex; seeds oblong, smooth, carunculate.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 6 species, endemic Australia. Australia: Qld, N.S.W, Vic., Tas., W.A.
Text by T. A. James & G. J. Harden
Taxon concept:
| One species in NSW: Amperea xiphoclada |
|
