Hamelia Jacq.

Shrubs, unarmed. Raphides absent. Leaves opposite or verticillate, usually with domatia; stipules persistent, interpetiolar, triangular. Inflorescences terminal, cymose with axes often helicoid and secund, many flowered, bracteate or bracts reduced. Flowers sessile to pedicellate, bisexual, monomorphic. Calyx limb 5-lobed. Corolla red to orange or yellow, tubular [to ventricose or funnelform], glabrous inside; lobes 5, imbricate in bud. Stamens 5, inserted at base of corolla tube, included or partially exserted; filaments short; anthers dorsifixed, 2-lobed at base, with connective flattened and prolonged at apex. Ovary 5-celled, ovules numerous in each cell on axile placentas; stigmas 1-5, linear to clavate, included or exserted. Fruit becoming red then purple-black, baccate, fleshy to juicy, ellipsoid to ovoid or subglobose, with calyx limb persistent; seeds numerous, small, irregularly angled to lenticular; testa membranous, reticulate.