Shrubs or trees, evergreen, unarmed. Trichomes simple. Buds with 2 pairs of caducous, opposite, ±imbricate scales. Leaves opposite or whorled (subopposite or alternate in occasional shoots), simple, or impari-or paripinnate, trifoliolate (bifoliolate in occasional leaves), without domatia. Inflorescences paniculate, terminal or terminal and axillary. Flowers bisexual, 4-merous. Sepals connate at base or up to c. 1/3 length, persistent in fruit. Petals narrowly imbricate or valvate, distinct, deciduous in fruit. Stamens 8, distinct, alternately ±unequal in length. Gynoecium subapocarpous, 4-carpelled; carpels in ovary without prominent glands; ovules (as far as known) 2 per locule; style apical; stigma punctiform or capitellate. Fruit of 1–4 basally connate follicles; exocarp woody or subfleshy, brown or attractively coloured (red or orange); abortive carpels persistent. Seeds (as far as known) solitary or rarely in pairs, ovoid to ellipsoid; testa dull to lustrous, without sclerotesta; endosperm lacking. Embryo (as far as known) straight; cotyledons flattened, convolute and folded in seed; hypocotyl terminal, considerably narrower than cotyledons.
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