Fls in axillary or terminal racemes or spikes, infls sts compound. Calyx us. deeply and almost equally 4-lobed, the fifth lobe when present us. smaller. Corolla short- or long-tubed, with 4 subequal spreading lobes. Stamens 2, anthers held above tube. Style long, stigma capitate. Capsule dehiscing by the sagittal splitting of the septum and each carpel opening by distal median suture through the septal wall and in varying degrees also through the locule wall; septum us. across widest diam. and capsule ± dorsally compressed; seeds us. flattened and smooth. Ever-green shrubs or small trees with lvs opp., us. entire though often toothed in seedling, rarely showing veins other than midrib. Perhaps c. 100 spp., mostly endemic in N.Z. but two shared with S. America and one of them extending to Falkland Is; a few spp. in Tasmania, south-east Australia and New Guinea. Type sp. = .

2n = 100

2n = 84

2n = 84

2n = 40