Description: Trees or shrubs, lacking tubercle-based hairs, mostly ± glabrous.
Leaves alternate, margins entire or toothed; distinctly petiolate.
Inflorescence terminal, a panicle or cyme. Flowers 5-merous. Corolla actinomorphic, tube campanulate or elongate, 5-lobed. Stamens 5, exserted or sometimes included in corolla tube. Ovary globose, usually 2-locular with 2 ovules per loculus; style terminal, bifid; stigmas small, capitate or elongate.
Fruit a drupe, yellow to reddish, breaking into 1- or 2-seeded pyrenes at maturity.
Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 50 species, tropical & warm-temp. regions, mostly Africa & Asia. Australia: 6 species (4 species endemic), Qld, N.S.W., N.T., W.A.
Sometimes placed in family Ehretiaceae.
Text by Peter G. Wilson
Taxon concept:
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Leaves with entire margins, mostly 1–2 cm wide | Ehretia membranifolia |
| Leaves with toothed margins, mostly 2.5–5.5 cm wide | Ehretia acuminata |
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