Greek ion — violet, chroma — colour, referring to the flower colour of most species.

Shrubs or occasionally small trees. Leaves alternate, entire. Flower clusters drooping, occasionally flowers in 2s. Calyx with 5 tooth-like lobes. Corolla mostly long and tubular, 5-lobed,white, yellow, scarlet or, generally, blue or violet. Stamens 5, joined to the corolla. Fruit a spherical to ovoid berry with a persistent, enveloping calyx.

Grown as well-formed border shrubs with attractive pendulous clusters of flowers.

Softwood cuttings or seed.

Some species have local medicinal uses.

Woody shrubs; calyx persisting and enlarging round the fruit; flowers long-tubular, in drooping clusters.

20 species from tropical South America.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Solanaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.