Flora of New Zealand Series

Herbs, rarely small shrubs or arborescent, nearly always with milky latex. Lvs usually alternate, simple, exstipulate. Fls in spikes, racemes, panicles or often solitary, actinomorphic, ⚥. Calyx 3-5-(10)-lobed; lobes imbricate or valvate; tube adnate to ovary. Corolla gamopetalous, tubular to campanulate, generally blue or white; lobes usually 5, valvate. Stamens as many as corolla lobes, inserted near to corolla base or on disc, free or connate. Ovary usually inferior, very rarely superior, 2-5-(10)-celled; placentation axile or parietal, rarely basal or apical; ovules mostly numerous; style 1; stigmas 1-several. Fr. usually capsular and variously dehiscent, rarely baccate. Seeds numerous.

c. 40 genera, 700 spp., temperate and subtropical regions.