Description: Trees or shrubs, dioecious [or polygamous].
Leaves alternate, margins toothed to entire; stipules minute or absent.
Flowers unisexual, in axillary clusters or few-flowered racemes. Sepals 4–8, fused at base. Petals absent. Disc few- to many-lobed. Stamens numerous.
Fruit a berry, thin-walled; seeds 1–8.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 100 species, tropical regions except Africa; Australia: 4 species, Qld, N.S.W. (2 species endemic L.H.I.).
Xylosma was previously placed in the now synonymised family Flacourtiaceae.
Text by G.J. Harden, Flora of New South Wales Vol. 1: 430-432 (1990), in Flacourtiaceae
Taxon concept: Australian Plant Census (accessed May 2017)
Taxa not yet included in identification key
Xylosma maidenii,
Xylosma parvifolia,
Xylosma terrae-reginae
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