S. NAZIMUDDIN AND M. QAISER

Evergreen shrubs or small trees. Leaves opposite or 3-4-whorled. Petiolate entire; stipules interpetiolar, caduceus. Inflorescence a terminal di- or trichotomous scorpoid cyme or panicle. Flowers sessile or shortly pedicellate. Hypanthium ovoid or turbinate. Calyx 5-lobed, lobes elliptic, short, erect and persistent. Corolla tubular or campanulate, 5-lobed, 5-ribbed, imbricate in bud, throat glabrous. Stamens 5, inserted at the base of corolla-tube; filaments short, anthers linear-oblong, basifixed Ovary 5-loculed, ovules numerous; stigma obtuse, fusiform; style slender, placentation axile. Fruit a small berry. Seds numerous, testa membranous, foveolate.

A genus of about 40 species, distributed in tropical and subtropical America, Mexico, Paraguay, West Indies etc. One cultivated species in Pakistan.

Lower Taxon

• Hamelia patens Jacquin