Shrubs or small trees. Leaves decussate or opposite, elliptic to obovate,
entire, exstipulate or stipules caducous. Flowers in peduncled cymes or sessile
clusters, axillary or extra axillary, bisexual, sometimes unisexual, 4-5-merous.
Calyx deeply lobed; lobes free, imbricate, often unequal. Petals united at base
or free, imbricate. Stamens dorsi fixed; filaments usually united at base. Disc
not distinct. Ovary free, completely or incompletely 2-loculed; ovules 2 in each locule. Capsule pointed or apiculate, longitudinally furrowed, laterally split
along one side with persistent calyx at base. Seed 1, erect, arillate.
Central America, Hawai, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan, Japan, Myanmar,
Thailand., Vietnam and Malesia; ca 70 species, 6 in India.
KEY TO THE SPECIES
1a. Flowers in sessile fascicles
2
b. Flowers in pedunculate cymes
5
2a. Leaves obtuse, rounded or sometimes slightly retuse