Shrubs decumbent or subshrubby herbs; branchlets ribbed. Leaves opposite or verticillate, entire; stipules caducous, minute. Flowers small, bisexual or unisexual, solitary or arranged in a raceme. Sepals 5, imbricate. Petals 5, valvate, smaller than sepals, fleshy, keeled within, enlarged and enclosing carpels after anthesis and forming a pseudodrupe. Stamens 10 in 2 series, free and opposite to petals; anthers exserted, large, 2-celled, longitudinally dehiscent. Carpels 5-10, free; ovary superior; ovule 1 per locule, pendulous, anatropous; styles 5, free, linear; stigma recurved. Pseudodrupe (capsule) oblate, red to black when mature; endosperm thin or absent, embryo erect.
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