Flora of New Zealand Series

Shrubs, trees or climbers, rarely herbs. Lvs usually alternate, rarely opposite, simple and entire to palmately or pinnately compound or lobed; stipules present or 0. Fls ⚥ or unisexual, actinomorphic, usually in terminal, rarely axillary umbels, less often in heads, spikes, or racemes, rarely solitary; umbels often in racemes or panicles. Calyx usually not toothed, rarely shallowly 5-toothed. Petals usually 5, sometimes 3-numerous, usually free. Stamens usually as many as petals, rarely more; filaments free; anthers 2-locular. Ovary inferior, rarely 1/2-inferior or superior, 1-many-locular; styles as many as loculi, free or partly connate; ovules usually 1 per loculus, rarely 2, pendulous. Fr. baccate or drupaceous, indehiscent.

c. 50 genera, c. 1150 spp., cosmopolitan but mainly tropical.