Rhaphithamnus
(from rhapis, a needle, and thamnos, a shrub; on account of the spiny character of some of the species). SYN. Paeppigia (of Bertero). ORD. Verbenaceae. A small genus (six species) of unarmed or spiny shrubs or trees, all natives of Chili. Flowers nodding, at the axils of minute bracts; calyx tubular-campanulate, shortly five-toothed; corolla tube straight, enlarged above, the limb spreading, of four or five unequal lobes; stamens four; didynamous; racemes axillary, few (often one or two) flowered. Leaves opposite, rather small, ovate, entire. Only two species have been introduced. For culture, see Myrtus.
R. cyanocarpus (blue-fruited). fl. pale blue, solitary or in pairs, shortly stalked; corolla tubular, 1/2in. long. Summer. l. broadly ovate and acute or orbicular and mucronate, very coriaceous, bright deep green above, pale beneath. h. 15ft. to 20ft. A densely leafy green-house tree, hardy in the Channel Islands and South-west England. (B. M. 6849.)