Shrubs or small trees, deciduous. Winter buds with several pairs of scales. Leaves opposite, entire, triplinerved, estipulate. Inflorescence a terminal panicle composed of numerous capitula. Capitulum of a single sessile whorl of opposite 3-flowered cymes and a terminal bud of bracts and a whorl often not developed. Capitulum with 2 pairs of involucral decussate bracts and 12 bracts (bracts of each cyme spatulate and often fused together, bracts of secondary flowers smaller and often missing). Involucral bracts ovate and persistent in fruit, glabrous to sericeous, longer and covering bracts and ovaries. Sepals 5, slightly protruding from involucre. Corolla tubular-funnelform; tube strongly curved at base with a nectary inside and shallowly gibbous, 5-lobed and regular. Stamens 5, exserted; filaments inserted at middle of corolla tube. Ovary 3-locular, 2 locules with numerous sterile ovules, remaining locule with 1 fertile ovule. Stigmas discoid. Fruit a leathery achene, cylindrical, crowned with a persistent and enlarged calyx. Achene 1-seeded, pericarp membranous; endosperm fleshy.
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