A genus of about eighty species of evergreen shrubs and subshrubs, ranging from the Philippines to Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. Leaves usually opposite and often decussate. Flowers in terminal heads. Corolla, as in Daphne, consisting of a four-lobed perianth. Stamens two, inserted in the throat of the perianth. Ovary one-celled. Fruits small, dry or fleshy, containing a single stone.
The genus contains many decorative shrubs, not hardy with us. The species described here seems to be the only one grown out-of-doors, but P. traversii might not be too tender and seems worthy of trial (see Philipson and Hearn, Rock Garden Plants of the Southern Alps, pp. 104-5).