Evergreen shrubs or trees. Leaves opposite, rarely in whorls of 3. Stipules broad, triangular, sometimes reflexed. Flowers white, pink, red or yellow in axillary or terminal panicles or cymes. Calyx lobes 4-5. Corolla with throat either glabrous or densely bearded, 4- or 5-lobed. Stamens 4-5. Ovary 2-locular, with many ovules per loculus.
Fruit a usually spherical capsule. Seeds without wings. Derivation of name: Named for G. Rondelet, 1507 - 1566, French physician and naturalist Worldwide: 130 species in the West Indies, Panama and S America Zimbabwe: 3 cultivated taxa. |
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