Shrubs or small trees, deciduous; branchlets with 2 prophylls, stellately pubescent. Leaves petiolate; stipules minute, linear, caducous, leaving small scars; leaf blade margin serrate, venation pinnate, 2 basal lateral veins usually with tertiary veins. Plants usually monoecious. Inflorescence racemose, mostly terminal on short lateral branches, pedunculate. Flowers functionally unisexual. Bract and bracteoles densely pubescent; floral cup obconical, pubescent. Male and female flowers similar, anthers slightly larger in male flowers, carpels slightly larger in female flowers. Sepals 5, lanceolate, densely pubescent. Petals 5, minute, scalelike. Stamens 5; filaments very short; anther thecae 2-sporangiate, each dehiscing by 2 valves. Ovary semi-inferior; ovules 1 per locule; styles long, stigmas large, decurrent. Capsules woody, with conspicuous lenticels, dehiscing loculicidally; endocarp thick and hard, usually loose from exocarp. Seeds narrowly ovoid; endosperm scant; embryo straight; cotyledons compressed, base subcordate. 2n = 24*.
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