Description: Dioecious shrubs.
Leaves opposite or alternate, simple, entire or lobed, usually with vesicular hairs.
Inflorescence paniculate or reduced and spike-like. Flowers usually unisexual. Perianth segments 5, usually with vesicular hairs on the outer surface, smooth on the inner surface. Male flowers with 5 stamens, usually united at the base into a thickened disc; rudimentary gynoecium minute. Female flowers with or without staminodes; ovary glabrous; stigmas 2, ± sessile.
Fruit a red or yellow berry; pericarp fleshy; seed horizontal; testa crustaceous, black, smooth to finely wrinkled or reticulate; embryo annular; perisperm copious.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 11 species, endemic Australia. Australia: all States.
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs
Taxon concept:
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Leaves c. 3 mm long; intricately branched spinescent shrub to 1 m high | Rhagodia ulicina |
| Leaves more than 5 mm long; plants spinescent or not | 2 |
| 2 | Leaves mealy when young, becoming scaly and covered with a silvery sheen; plants of coastal habitats | Rhagodia candolleana |
| Leaves mealy with vesicular hairs; plants of inland or non-coastal habitats
Back to 1 | 3 |
| 3 | Indumentum of spherical or saucer-shaped vesicular hairs | Rhagodia spinescens |
| Indumentum of irregularly shaped vesicular hairs
Back to 2 | Rhagodia parabolica |
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