Shrubs or mostly small trees. Leaves alternate, manifestly distichous, entire, crenate or serrate, often pellucid-punctate and/or-striate. Stipules mostly very small and early caducous, sometimes ± persistent, subulate or lanceolate, or reniform and ± amplectant. Flowers axillary, bisexual, small, mostly clustered in ± dense-flowered fascicles or glomerules (these sometimes reduced to a solitary flower), or very rarely clustered on top of a short peduncle, the latter naked or densely covered by ± imbricate bracts. Pedicels articulated above their base and surrounded there by many, often scale-like bracts, the latter mostly forming a cushion. Calyx semi-perigynous, ± deeply 5-lobed; lobes imbricate, persistent, mostly erect-patent, rarely reflexed at or after anthesis. Petals 0. Stamens (5-)8-10(-12); filaments whether or not alternately unequal in length. Staminodes same in number as the stamens, usually well developed as clavate or flat appendages, mostly hairy, specially on top, alternating with the stamens (in Mai. spp) and united with them at the base in a ± perigynous tube. Ovary free, ovoid to columnar; style 0 or very short; stigma capitate (in Mal. spp.). Ovules few to many. Capsule succulent to coriaceous or hard, globose or ovoid or oblong, 3-angled when fresh, mostly 6-ribbed when dry, (2-)3-valved. Seeds few to numerous, ovoid or obovoid, angular by mutual pressure, enveloped by a membranous, usually coloured, soft, fimbriate aril; testa ± crustaceous; albumen fleshy; cotyledons flat.
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Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, usually distichous on lateral branches, serrate, crenate or entire, often pellucid-punctate; stipules present, often small and caducous. Flowers axillary, bisexual, mostly in bracteate fascicles or tight clusters, these sometimes reduced to a solitary flower; pedicels articulate, subtended by scale-like bracts. Calyx 5–lobed; lobes imbricate, persistent, spreading, rarely reflexed. Petals absent. Stamens 5–12; filaments sometimes alternately unequal in length; staminodes 5–12, alternate and connate with stamens. Ovary superior; style very short or absent; stigma capitate; placentas 3 or 4, each with few to many ovules. Fruit a fleshy or dry capsule, 3–valved, rarely 2 or 4, often ribbed or angled. Seeds often angular by mutual pressure, enveloped by a membranous, usually coloured, fimbriate aril; testa crustaceous.
Mostly in lowland rain-forests, also in mountain forests (mossy scrub), always scattered.A few species are apparently rather indifferent to climate and occur both in the everwet and seasonal forest, e.g. 28. C. grewiaefolia Vent, and 22. C. velutina Bl.
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