Description: Trees or shrubs, terminal shoots with caducous scale leaves leaving scars just above the leaf scars.
Leaves alternate or sometimes in psuedowhorls, simple, entire or occasionally toothed in juveniles, glabrous, leathery, petiolate, stipules absent.
Inflorescence terminal, paniculate. Flowers actinomorphic, bisexual, 5-merous. Sepals and petals 5, free. Stamens 5, opposite petals and fused to them at base; anthers 2-locular, dorsifixed, introrse by longitudinal slits; staminodes 5, alternate with anthers, petaloid, nectariferous. Ovary superior, 1-locular; ovule 1; styles 1 or 2.
Fruit a drupe.
Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 6 species, Australia, New Guinea, N.C., New Zealand, Vanuatu. Australia: 2 species (1 species endemic), Qld, N.S.W.
Text by G. J. Harden
Taxon concept:
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