Shrubs or small tree. Leaves opposite, with bacterial nodules; stipules intrapetiolar, connate into a sheath, deciduous. Inflorescence trichotomously branched, corymbose, sometimes capitate. Flowers mostly white, bracteolate. Calyx-tube ovoid or turbinate, lobes 4(-5). Corolla salver shaped. tube slender; lobes 4-(5). Stamens 4-(5), inserted on the mouth of the corolla, filament short, or absent, anthers dorsifixed, linear, oblong or subulate. Ovary bilocular; style filiform, exserted, about twice as long as the corolla tube; stigma fusiform or clavate, ovules solitary. Fruits a drupe, globose or didymous, pyrenes two, cartilaginous; seeds with excavation, testa membranous.

A genus of about 400 species, palaeotropic in distribution, represented here by the following species.

Lower Taxon

• Pavetta tomentosa Roxb. ex Smith

Related Synonym(s):

• Ixora tomentosa Roxb. = Pavetta tomentosa Roxb. ex Smith
• Pavetta indica var. tomentosa (Roxb. ex Smith) Hook. f. = Pavetta tomentosa Roxb. ex Smith