Trees or shrubs, glabrous; monoecious. Leaves alternate, coriaceous, entire; short-petiolate; stipules persistent, oblique-decurrent, projecting between adaxial surface of petiole and stem ("intrapetiolar"). Inflorescences subsessile or shortly pedicellate, the densely bracteate clusters racemose or occasionally paniculate; sepals 5, firm, larger than the sometimes scale-like petals; disc not very conspicuous. Staminate flowers with stamens 5, the filaments free, shorter than the introrsely dehiscing anthers; pollen grains oblate, 3-5-colporate, echinate; pistillode conspicu-ous. Pistillate flowers with 3 carpels, the ovules 2 in each locule, anatropous, the styles connate, the stigmas thick, bifid, reflexed. Fruits capsular, massive, the endo-carp often very thick, tardily dehiscent, the columella massive, tapering from the base; seeds usually 3 per capsule, ovoid or ellipsoid, smooth, not carunculate, thin-walled, the endosperm scanty or absent, the massive angled cotyledons filling most of the seed, the radicle short.
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