About 10 species of evergreen and deciduous shrubs and trees; branches have chambered pith. Leaves alternate, simple, dentate. Flowers white, cream, or green-white, small, many per cluster (raceme or spike), 5 petals, 5 stamens. Fruit, capsule, many seeded. Native to northeastern Asia and eastern North America.
Itea: Greek name for willow, a reference to the somewhat willow-like pendulous catkins.
Pronunciation:
i-TE-a
Family:
Iteaceae, formerly Grossulariaceae