[Greek trichos, hair, and stigma, stigma, in reference to the penicillate stigma]

Shrubs or vines, perennial. Leaves alternate. Inflorescences axillary or terminal racemes, 5-30-flowered. Flowers: sepals 4; stamens 8-13[-25]; carpels 1; ovary 1-loculed; style absent; stigma 1, penicillate. Fruits berries, black, subglobose. Seed 1.

Species 3 (1 in the flora): North America, Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America.

The fruits of Trichostigma are sometimes described as drupes.

Lower Taxon

• Trichostigma octandrum (Linnaeus) H. Walter