Herbs or shrubs or trees. Leaves opposite or whorled, very rarely alternate, usually simple (digitate in Vitex); stipules wanting. Flowers generally hermaphrodite, irregular or rarely regular. Calyx inferior, persistent, 4–5-toothed. Corolla gamopetalous, hypogynous; limb 2-lipped or equal, 4–5-lobed, lobes imbricate. Stamens usually 4, didynamous, inserted on the tube of the corolla; anthers 2-celled, dehiscing lengthwise. Ovary superior, entire or shortly 4-lobed, 2–4-celled; style terminal, simple; stigma entire or 2-lobed; ovules solitary or 2 collateral in each cell, erect or ascending. Fruit drupaceous or almost capsular, 2–4-celled (1-celled in Avicennia), indehiscent or the whole fruit or the endo-carp alone separating into 2–4 pyrenes. Seeds solitary in each cell, usually erect or ascending; albumen present or wanting; embryo straight, radicle inferior.

A moderately large order, most abundant in the tropics or warm temperate regions of both hemispheres; a few species extend both north and south into cool climates. Genera 60 or thereabouts; species estimated at 700. Bitter or astringent properties predominate in the order, but these can hardly be said to be of medicinal importance. The teak (Tectona grandis), the timber of which is so largely employed for shipbuilding, is the species of most economic importance. The genera Verbena, Lantana, and Clerodendron contain several well-known garden-plants. Of the New Zealand genera, Teucridium is endemic; Vitex is found in nearly all warm countries; while Avicennia is widely spread or most tropical shores.

Tree. Leaves digitate. Corolla 2-lipped. Fruit a fleshy drupe	1. Vitex,
Slender shrub. Leaves small, entire. Corolla 2-lipped. Fruit separating into 4 pyrenes	2. Teucridium.
Maritime shrub. Leaves entire. Corolla regular. Fruit capsular	3. Avicennia.

1. Vitex, Linn.

Trees or shrubs. Leaves opposite, digitately 3–5-foliolate, very rarely simple. Flowers in axillary or terminal cymes or panicles.

Calyx 5-toothed or -lobed. Corolla-tube short; limb oblique, 2-lipped; lobes 5, the lowest one usually larger than the rest. Stamens 4, didynamous, usually exserted; anther-cells distinct. Ovary 2–4-celled; ovules solitary or 2 in each cell; style filiform, shortly 2-lobed. Drupe globose or obovoid, more or less succulent; endocarp bony, usually 4-celled. Seeds obovate or oblong, albumen wanting.

A large genus of about 70 species, scattered through most tropical and subtropical regions, rare or absent in temperate climates. The New Zealand species is endemic.

2. Teucridium, Hook. f.

A much-branched shrub; branchlets slender, 4-angled. Leaves small, opposite, petiolate, entire. Flowers axillary, solitary. Calyx broadly campanulate, 5-lobed; lobes acute. Corolla-tube short; limb oblique, spreading, 2-lipped, 5-lobed; the lower lobe the largest. Stamens 4, didynamous, attached to the base of the corolla-tube, far exserted; anthers l-celled. Ovary villous at the tip, 4-lobed, imperfectly 4-celled; ovules 1 in each cell, pendulous; style slender, arcuate, 2-fid; branches subulate, shortly stigmatose. Fruit small, sunk in the persistent calyx, 4-lobed to the middle, ultimately splitting into 4 hispid pyrenes. Seed solitary in each pyrene, laterally affixed; albumen wanting; cotyledons large.

A peculiar monotypic genus confined to New Zealand. Although allied to Vitex, it has the anomalous character of a 4-lobed ovary, thus showing an approach to the Labiatœ.

3. Avicennia, Linn.

Littoral shrubs or small trees. Leaves opposite, quite entire, coriaceous. Flowers in contracted pedunculate cymes in the axils of the upper leaves or in trichotomous corymbs at the ends of the branches. Calyx short, 5-partite, unchanged in fruit. Corolla-tube short and broad; limb of 4 or 5 nearly equal spreading lobes. Stamens 4, inserted on the throat of the corolla; filaments short; anthers shortly exserted, ovate, cells parallel. Ovary imperfectly 4-celled by a 4-winged central column; ovules 4, pendulous between the wings of the column; style usually short, bifid. Capsule broad, compressed, coriaceous, 1-celled, 2-valved. Seed solitary, erect, consisting of a large embryo with the usual integuments very feebly developed; cotyledons large, folded longitudinally; radicle inferior, villous; plumule conspicuous, germinating before the fall of the fruit.

A genus comprising 2 or 3 very closely related species, widely spread along the shores of most tropical or subtropical countries.