Flora of New Zealand Series

Small to medium-sized trees, shrubs, subshrubs, more rarely herbs or climbers, generally hirsute or hispid. Lvs petiolate; lamina with 3-7 longitudinal veins, the outermost close to the entire margins. Infl. a terminal panicle or fls solitary. Calyx hirsute to hispid, 5-lobed. Petals 5, generally rather large, violet or purple, usually obovate. Stamens 10, equal or unequal; connective without appendages or with 2 lobes or tubercles at base. Ovary 5-locular, free or adnate to calyx, with apex hispid or hirsute. Fr. a capsule enclosed by persistent calyx tube.

c. 200 spp., tropical America. Naturalised sp. 1.