Shrubs or small trees, glabrous or pubescent, hairs simple. Leaves opposite; blade venation brochidodromous. Inflorescences 1 or 3-flowered, axillary, solitary flowers or dichasia. Flowers 4-merous, sessile or pedicellate; hypanthium obconic to campanulate; calyx green, lobes distinct; petals white; stamens 170–300; ovary 2-locular; ovules 6–14 per locule. Fruits berries, dark purple, subglobose, crowned by calyx lobes. Seeds 1–16, lenticular; seed coat membranous; embryo lenticular; cotyledons suborbicular, separate, thinly plano-convex; hypocotyls cylindri­cal, about as long as cotyledons.

Distribution

Introduced; California, South America (Argentina, Chile, Peru), introduced also in temperate regions.

Discussion

Species 2 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Luma apiculata