Shrubs or small trees. Leaves opposite or, usually in our species, in whorls of 3; interpetiolar stipules present. Flowers in terminal cymes. calyx with 5 short erect lobes. Corolla tubular, lobes very short.
Stamens 5; inserted near base of corolla-tube.
Ovary 5-locular. Fruit a small spherical to ovoid berry; seeds numerous, minute. Derivation of name: Named after Henri Louis Duhamel du Monceau, a French botanist, 1700-1781. Worldwide: 16 species in tropical America Mozambique: 1 cultivated taxon. |