In Family Elaeocarpaceae the genus has as 16 synonyms and 187 species.
Australia has 5 species.
Species are mostly trees that often have a buttressed trunk.
New growth may have simple hairs.
The leaves alternate and may be clustered at the branch ends.
They have a petiole that is swollen at the base or both ends.
There may be stipules at the petiole base but they fall early.
The simple blades have a smooth or toothed edge and pinnate veins.
The almost always axillary inflorescences are on a peduncle with bracts.
Many are racemes (a spike with flowers on pedicels opening from the base up).
Others are branched clusters (panicles) variously arranged or rarely a single flower.
The usually bisexual flowers have 4 to 5 ovate sepals.
They may be free or slightly joined at the base.
Occasionally there are no petals but usually there are 4 or 5.
The overlapping obovate petals have a rounded or toothed tip.
The numerous stamens, on short filaments insert onto a thick wide flat disk.
The basifixed anthers can open through apical pores but more often through lateral slits near the tip.
The connective tissue between the 2 anther sacs has an appendage.
There are 2 to 7 locules in the ovary.
The numerous ovules in each locule are in 2 or more rows.
Placentation is axial.
The styles may be free or joined at the base then separate above.
The fruit are woody loculicidal capsules that are smooth or covered in bristles.
Each chamber has 1 or 2 (3) seeds with a large fleshy aril (part of the seed coat.)
J.F.
