Unarmed trees and shrubs with reddish hairy innovations. Leaves usually in spirals, pinnate to unifoliolate (rarely so in Australia); leaflets usually alternate, articulated at base. Inflorescences racemes or thyrses. Flowers bisexual, 4-or 5-merous. Sepals united basally, imbricate. Petals imbricate. Stamens 8 or 10, usually alternately unequal, attached around disc; filaments abruptly narrowed at apex; anthers generally with apical gland and sometimes 1 or more glands on connective. Disc annular, weakly lobed. Gynophore often present, stout. Ovary 2–5-locular, each locule with 1 or 2 pendulous ovules; style short with swollen head. Berry spherical to ellipsoid, dry or fleshy. Seeds 1 or 2 (3), spherical to planoconvex; cotyledons green, fleshy.