Citation: Forster & Forster f., Char. Gen. Pl. 137 (1776).

Derivation: Greek kopros, dung; osme, smell; alluding to the foetid odour of some species.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: None

Description:
Perennial woody shrubs; leaves opposite, with stipules connate with the petiole to form a sheath around the node.

Inflorescence an axillary thyrse usually reduced to a few-flowered dichasium; flowers unisexual (plants dioecious), 4- or 5-merous; calyx short, persistent; corolla tubular, with valvate lobes, deciduous; stamens with the filaments connate to the base of the corolla tube; anthers with a terminal appendage; ovary inferior, with 2 locules each with 1 ovule; style deeply 2-lobed.

Fruit a very fleshy drupe, with 2 rarely 1 pyrene.

Distribution:  About 90 species found in Malaysia, Polynesia, New Zealand, Australia and Chile.

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available