Trees or shrubs. Leaves often coriaceous, the stipules deciduous or persistent. Inflorescences axillary, cymose, the peduncle when present with branches spreading, the flowers secundly disposed, the bracteoles present or absent. Flow-ers with the hypanthium ovoid or obovoid, the calyx lobes persistent; corolla funnelform, the 4-5 lobes imbricate, 2 of them exterior; stamens 4-5, included or scarcely exserted, the anthers slender, dorsifixed, often pubescent; style slen-der, the stigma knoblike or 2-3-lobed, included, the ovary 2-10-celled, the ovules solitary, pendulous. Fruits drupaceous, thin carnose, the shell ligneous or bony, the seeds elongate, pendulous.