Summary After a review of a number of characters of the Winteraceae, two topics are discussed. Firstly, it is argued that determination factors of place, size, form, and function of petals and stamens can become unlocked and fixed again in a different way, giving rise to a new form: the stamen with a petaloid appendage, which consequently has to be considered as derived. Secondly, the differences between the Old World section Tasmannia and the New World section Drimys of the genus Drimys are discussed on the basis of two alternative clado‐eventograms. It is suggested that the low chromosome number of section Tasmannia is an apomorphy and that Drimys in its wide sense should be upheld.

SUMMARYZygogynum fraterculum, a new species of Zygogynum is described and illustrated.Key words: Winteraceae, Zygogynum, New Caledonia. Treelet 3-8 m high. Branchlets rather slender; dry epidermis blackish brown, longi tudinally wrinkled, cells laterally distinct, almost flat. Cataphylls (strongly reduced leaves), but usually their scars, between and below the leaves. Leaves scattered. Petioles 0.5-1.1 cm long, flat or proximally slightly canaliculate above, rounded to triangular below. Blade narrowly obovate, 1.8-5.6 by 0.6-1.7 cm, thinly coriaceous; apex broadly rounded, rarely obtuse; base attenuate; in sicco margins recurved; midrib flat above, slightly raised to prominent and rounded to triangular below; nerves at the middle of the blade at an angle of 55-65º(-80º) to the midrib, faint to prominulous above, faint to inconspicuous below. On lower leaf surface only stomata grey. Inflorescences with 0(-6) bract scars below lowest partial inflorescence; partial inflorescences 1-3, 1 flow ered. Only scars of bracts seen. Pedicels flattened, often apically somewhat broadened, 35 -55 mm long, smooth. Calyx ruptured irregularly into 2 or 3(-5) lobes, rather thick to rather thin, patent, 3-4 mm long. Corolla: 4 or 5 outer petals for 0.5-0.8 of their length connate into a continuous ring which upon anthesis ruptures along slightly thinner areas demarcating the petals into ovate lobes 10-15 by 4-9 mm; inner petals 8-11, free, elliptic to obovate, towards stamens decreasing in size, innermost ones 5.5 by 3 mm. All petals especially on adaxial side micropapillate by high convex cells; brachysclereids not seen. Stamens 59-81, 3-5 mm long, distal stamens longer than proximal ones; filaments obovoid to rod-shaped, (partly) micropapillate by high-convex cells; thecae apical, at the median touching but distinctly demarcated, at 40-120º to each other. Pollen in tetrads; exine reticulate. Carpels 10-14, free, 3-3.5 by 2.5-3.5 by 1.5-2 mm; apex long, straight to convex; stigma rather broad, abaxially as long as to slightly longer than carpel apex, adaxially after a sharp angle descending over Zygogynum fraterculum

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