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Trees [shrubs], deciduous. Leaves: stipules caducous; blade usually lobed, base often cordate, palmately 5–7-veined. Flowers unisexual or rarely bisexual (plants monoecious or polygamous); sepals 5, ± connate into tube. Staminate flowers: stamens [10–]15; anthers shortly stipitate or sessile, 2-celled, dehiscing longitudinally; pistillode present. Pistillate flowers: ovary 5-locular, pyriform [ovoid or globose], base ringed with [10–]15 indehiscent anthers; ovules 2–6 per locule; styles 5, basally connate; stigmas 5. Follicles stipitate, chartaceous, foliaceous, dehiscent long before maturity and exposing seeds adhering to margins. Seeds globose, smooth, wrinkled when dry, glabrous; endosperm abundant; embryo straight. x = 10.
Fls regular, functionally unisexual; cal-tube cupuliform and with a dense band of hairs and a nectariferous disk surrounding the prominent, exserted androgynophore; pet none; stamens ca 15, with sessile anthers, in staminate fls forming a globular clump concealing the pistillodes, in pistillate fls well formed but sterile, closely subtending the ovary; carpels at first connate (even the styles), later separating; follicles stipitate, papery, 2–4-seeded; small, monoecious or subdioecious trees with deciduous, palmately lobed lvs and caducous stipules. 15, Old World trop.
