Lauraceae

Trees, shrubs or twining hemiparasitic perennial herbs; usually aromatic in all parts. Leaves mostly alternate, rarely opposite or whorled, simple, entire, leathery or reduced to scales; stipules absent. Inflorescence axillary, usually a spike, raceme or head, rarely reduced to a single flower (not in Victoria). Flowers small, actinomorphic, bisexual or unisexual, usually perigynous with a well-developed receptacle; tepals usually in 2 similar or dissimilar whorls of 2 or 3, sometimes in 3 whorls of 3, or perianth absent; stamens in 3 or 4 whorls of 3, often some reduced to staminodes, filaments often glandular at base, anthers 2- or 4-celled, dehiscing by uplifting valves; ovary usually superior with a single carpel, 1-celled; ovules 1 per carpel; style simple; stigma capitate, 2- or 3-lobed. Fruit a drupe or 1-seeded berry, indehiscent, sometimes enclosed by the enlarged receptacle but not fused to it.