Description: Shrubs or small trees with spines.
Leaves opposite, sometimes whorled, ± crowded at ends of short branchlets, domatia sometimes present on lower surface; stipules interpetiolar.
Flowers in axillary cymes or clusters or solitary at apex of short branchlets, bisexual. Calyx tube truncate, toothed or lobed. Corolla tube cylindrical, 5-lobed, contorted in bud. Stamens 5; anthers ± sessile, inserted in throat. Ovary 2-locular; ovules many per loculus; style cylindrical; stigma entire or 2-lobed.
Fruit 2-locular berries, indehiscent, succulent; seeds usually several.
Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 100 species, tropical, and warm America to Florida and Bolivia. Australia: c. 3 species, Qld, NSW.
The Australian species appear not to be closely related to Randia s. str., but currently lack combinations in any other genus. (Puttock, C.F. & Quinn, C.J. (1999) Generic Concepts in Australian Gardenieae (Rubiaceae):a Cladistic Approach. Aust. Syst. Bot. 12, 181–199). The group is in need of further study.
Text by S. McCune: updated Louisa Murray 2011
Taxon concept:
| One species in NSW: Randia moorei |
|
