Monoecious shrubs to tall trees; indumentum of centrifixed hairs. Leaves dentate to entire with a strong spicy smell. Flowers unisexual, axillary, solitary; 2 large bracts enclosing mature flower bud, persistent through anthesis. Hypanthium campanulate. Perianth of 8 tepals, in 2 ± distinct, slightly unequal whorls. Male flowers: stamens usually 12–20, spirally arranged, each with 2 narrow appendages (glands) at base of filament; connective not prolonged above anthers; staminodes absent. Female flowers: staminodes usually 24–40, in 3 subspiral whorls; carpels up to 30; style terminal. Fruiting hypanthium enlarged, subglobose, densely pubescent, ± indehiscent, with enlarging inner staminodes surrounding the exserted styles. Achenes ellipsoid or slightly conical, uniformly plumose, on inner surface of hypanthium.
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