Page:Manual of the New Zealand Flora.djvu/282

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Trees, shrubs, or herbs, rarely climbing. Leaves opposite or whorled, simple, entire or very rarely toothed or lobed. Stipules always present, usually interpetiolar, either free or united with the petioles into a sheath, or connate into a sheath or ring surrounding the stem within the petioles; in the tribe Galieæ resembling the leaves, and with them forming a whorl round the branch. Flowers regular, hermaphrodite or unisexual, variously arranged. Calyx-tube adnate to the ovary; limb 4–5-toothed or cupular, sometimes wanting. Corolla gamopetalous, tubular, funnel-shaped, campanulate, or rotate, usually 4–5-lobed; lobes valvate or imbricate or contorted. Stamens inserted on the tube or mouth of the corolla, equal in number to its lobes. Ovary inferior, 2–many-celled, crowned by a fleshy disc; styles 1 or 2 or more; ovules solitary or 2 or more in each cell. Fruit very various, a drupe or berry or capsule, or composed of dehiscent or indehiscent cocci. Seeds with fleshy or horny albumen; embryo straight or curved; radicle superior or inferior.

Shrubs or small trees, usually erect, more rarely prostrate or creeping, often fœtid when bruised. Leaves opposite, petiolate or almost sessile; stipules interpetiolar, acute or acuminate, entire or denticulate. Flowers diœcious, small and inconspicuous, solitary or clustered in few- or many-flowered fascicles or cymes.