Shrubs or trees. Leaves: blade flat to concave-convex, coriaceous, margins entire, flat, revolute, or strongly undulate. Inflorescences axillary, aments; bracts opposite, distinct or connate basally; bracteoles 0. Pedicels: staminate present, pistillate absent. Staminate flowers: sepals 4, <valvate in bud, apically connivent by intertwined hairs>, linear to lanceolate-oblong; petals 0; nectary absent or vestigial; stamens alternate with sepals, anthers basifixed. Pistillate flowers: sepals 2, sometimes rudimentary; petals 0; nectary absent; ovules 2; styles 2(–3), erect or recurved, linear-lanceolate; stigmas decurrent on adaxial surfaces of styles. Fruits berries, dark blue to black, drying whitish-gray, subglobose to ovoid, fleshy, becoming brittle. Seeds (1–)2 per fruit. x = 11.
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