Trees, shrubs or subshrubs, perennial, monoecious, evergreen; stems and foliage without latex. Indumentum of simple or glandular trichomes; scales and stinging trichomes absent. Stipules entire, generally inconspicuous, deciduous. Leaves alternate, subverticillate or subopposite, ± sessile to petiolate, simple and elobate, flat to plicate to recurved or revolute, entire or toothed, coriaceous or chartaceous, penniveined; glands absent. Inflorescences fasciculate or solitary, axillary, extra-axillary, rarely interpetiolar, or on short brachyblasts, uni-or bisexual, with flowers in bracteate groups. Male flowers pedicellate; calyx lobes 4–6, imbricate, ± equal; petals 2–6, often scale-like or absent; disc extra-staminal, annular, 4-or 5-lobed (rarely 6), or entire and rounded; stamens 3–6, inserted on the disc; filaments free, filiform; anthers introrse, bilobate; thecae oblong and longitudinally dehiscent; pistillode trifid. Female flowers pedicellate; calyx lobes 4–6, imbricate; petals 2–6, often scale-like or absent; disc annular, cupular or lobed, fleshy; ovary 3-locular, with locules biovulate; styles free or shortly connate at base, entire or bifid. Fruit capsular, rounded, 3–5-lobate, with surface bullate, glabrous or pubescent, dehiscing loculicidally and partly septicidally into bivalved cocci; columella persistent. Seeds deltoid; testa crustaceous; albumen absent; caruncles absent or present; cotyledons thick, sometimes plicate.
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