Lianas to small trees. Leaves alternate, frequently scabrous, pubescent with simple hairs only, the petioles often canaliculate, narrowly alate. Inflorescences axillary or terminal, paniculiform, usually many-flowered. Flowers perfect, ac-tinomorphic; sepals 5, unequal, the inner 2 accrescent, enveloping the fruit and the persistent stamens at maturity; petals 1-6, caducous; stamens indefinite, persistent, the filaments free, filiform, the anthers longitudinally dehiscent, 2-thecate, the thecae nearly parallel, about half sunken into the dilated connective; carpels 1, globose, 1-loculed, the ovules 2, erect, basal, the styles clavate, exceeding the stamens, the stigmas peltate, emarginate. Fruit globose, indehiscent to irregularly dehiscent, the seeds 1, smooth, arillate, the aril more or less entire, completely enveloping the seed at maturity, the embryo small, straight.
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