Flora of New Zealand Series

Evergreen, ⚥ or andromonoecious shrubs or small trees with thin, twiggy branches. Lvs rather small, apparently in opposite, unequal pairs, but the smaller really a leaflike stipule; petiole short; lamina usually toothed. Fls small, in axillary racemes or fascicles; bracts small. Sepals 4-5-(6), valvate, persistent. Petals 0. Stamens numerous or as few as 5 or 10; filaments glabrous; 5 glands present between sepals and stamens. Ovary superior, 1-locular; placentae 2-4, bearing many ovules. Style simple. Fr. a berry, reddish, sometimes dehiscent at apex. Seeds few.

10-12 spp., temperate and subtropical S. America. Naturalised sp. 1.