Trees or shrubs. Leaves mostly decussate-opposite, simple, deciduous, ex-stipulate. Inflorescences cymose (determinate), axillary or supra-axillary; usually polygamous. Flowers actinomorphic; calyx gamosepalous, tubular or campanulate to cyathiform, 4-fid to 4-toothed, sometimes entire, rarely 5-toothed; corolla gamopetalous, infundibular or hypocrateriform, the tube straight, usually broadly cylindric, ampliate above, the limb 4-(rarely 5-)parted, the lobes lingulate, iso-morphic, spreading; stamens 4 or rarely 5, equal, inserted at or near the base of the corolla-tube, alternate with the corolla-lobes, usually more or less exserted, the filaments filiform, separate, glabrous, the anthers oblong or elliptic, dorsifixed near the base, 2-celled, the thecae parallel and opening extrorsely by longitudinal slits or rarely by terminal pores; pistil single, terminal, compound, absent from staminate flowers, the style single, capillary, glabrous, the stigma depressed-capitate or peltate, the ovary single, compound, usually subglobose and more or less pubescent, 4-celled, of 2, 2-celled carpels, each cell with 1-high-lateral ovule, rudimentary or absent in staminate flowers. Fruit drupaceous, more or less globose or depressed-globose with fleshy and variously colored exocarp and hard endocarp, the latter separating into 4, (or through abortion fewer) stoney pyrenes, each containing a single seed; embryo straight, with scanty or no endosperm; fruiting-calyx usually unchanged, patelliform.
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