Fls perfect, zygomorphic, axillary, solitary or in reduced cymes. Calyx 5-cleft; corolla 5-lobed; stamens 4, inserted on corolla-tube at base of lobes (a staminode sts present); anthers 2-celled, cells often divergent. Ovary superior, us. 2-loculed; ovules 2-4-8 per locule, pend.; style simple. Fr. drupaceous or baccate. Shrubs or trees with us. alt., exstipulate, gland-dotted lvs. Some 5 genera and 110 spp., mainly Australian, but extending to Malaya.

Fls perfect, irregular to subregular, us. bracted, solitary to racemed or paniculate; calyx us. deeply 4-5-lobed or -toothed; corolla gamopetalous, us. 4-5-lobed, others ± bilabiate. Stamens arising near base of corolla-tube, 4 and didynamous or 2, rarely 5, one pair sts reduced to staminodes; anthers 2-celled, dehiscing longitudinally. Ovary superior, 2-loculed; placentation axile; style 1, stigmas simple, bilobed or occ. paired. Fr. a septicidal or loculicidal capsule. Herbs, subshrubs, shrubs or trees, occ. lianes, with opp. or alt., simple, entire or toothed or pinnatifidly lobed exstipulate lvs. Widespread family of some 220 genera and over 3000 spp., some members parasites or hemiparasites.

Shrubs, or small trees, occasionally ± herbaceous. Indumentum usually present; hairs glandular, stellate or lepidote. Lvs usually opposite or verticillate, very rarely alternate, simple, often bullate. Infl. cymose, racemose, paniculate, or rarely fls solitary. Fls actinomorphic or slightly zygomorphic, ☿, 4-merous. Calyx 4-lobed. Corolla 4-lobed, imbricate, tubular. Stamens 4, inserted on corolla tube; filaments free or 0; anthers included or exserted. Ovary 2-locular, superior or semi-inferior; ovules numerous, on axile placentas. Style 1; stigma entire or 2-lobed. Fr. usually a septicidal capsule, rarely a drupe or berry. Seeds often winged; endosperm scanty.

Shrubs or small to medium-sized trees. Lvs exstipulate, simple, usually alternate. Fls axillary, ebracteate, solitary or in cymose clusters, ☿, zygomorphic. Calyx usually 5-lobed, accrescent. Corolla 4-5-lobed; lobes imbricate, almost equal or forming 2 lips; upper lip or lobes exterior to lower in bud. Stamens usually 4, inserted on corolla tube at base of lobes; staminode sometimes present. Anthers 2-celled; cells often divergent. Ovary superior, with 2-(5) carpels; carpels often becoming 2-locular. Ovules 1-8 per loculus, anatropous. Style simple. Fr. usually a drupe, sometimes baccate, sometimes almost dry; endocarp bony. Seeds with little endosperm; embryo straight.

Annual or perennial herbs (rarely climbing), shrubs, or rarely trees, sometimes root semi-parasites. Lvs usually simple, sometimes deeply lobed, opposite, alternate, whorled, or opposite below and alternate above, occasionally all radical, exstipulate. Fls usually in bracteate racemes or spikes, or solitary and axillary, weakly to strongly zygomorphic. Calyx (3)-4-5-lobed, sometimes almost to base, sometimes 2-lipped. Corolla 4-5-(8)-lobed, often 2-lipped, sometimes saccate or with a spur near base, sometimes with a pouch (palate) at the base of the limb, occasionally with 2 pouches. Stamens 2, 4, 5 or rarely 6-8, usually didynamous; staminodes sometimes present. Anthers usually 2-celled. Ovary superior, (1)-2-(3)-locular; stigma entire or 2-lobed. Fr. usually a variously compressed loculicidal or septicidal capsule, rarely a berry or a schizocarp; seeds numerous, endospermic.