Subshrubs, shrubs, trees, or vines [herbs], evergreen or deciduous. Leaves usually opposite, sometimes whorled [alternate], simple; stipules absent; petiole present or absent; blade sometimes palmately lobed, margins entire, serrate, serrulate, dentate, denticulate, or crenate; venation pinnate or acrodromous (Fendlera, Fendlerella, Philadelphus, Whipplea). Inflorescences terminal or axillary, cymes, panicles, racemes, or corymbs, or flowers solitary. Flowers bisexual [unisexual], or sometimes marginal ones sterile, radially symmetric (bisexual ones) or bilaterally symmetric with enlarged petaloid sepals (sterile ones); perianth and androecium nearly hypogynous, perigynous, or epigynous; hypanthium completely adnate to ovary or adnate to ovary proximally, free distally; sepals 4–12, distinct or connate basally; petals 4–12, connate basally [entirely, then calyptrate]; nectary usually present, rarely absent; stamens 8–200, usually distinct, sometimes connate proximally, free; anthers dehiscing by longitudinal slits; pistil 1, 2–12-carpellate, ovary less than 1/2 inferior, 1/2 inferior, or completely inferior, 1–12-locular, placentation usually axile proximally, parietal distally, rarely strictly axile or parietal; ovules 1–50 per locule, anatropous; styles 1–12, distinct or connate proximally to most of length; stigmas (1–)2–12. Fruits capsules [berries], dehiscence septicidal, loculicidal, interstylar, or intercostal. Seeds 1–50 per locule, funicular appendage present (Fendlerella, Whipplea) or absent.
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Monoecious or polygamodioecious (not in Australia) perennial shrubs, vines (not in Australia) or herbs (not in Australia). Leaves opposite, rarely whorled or alternate (not in Australia), simple, entire, toothed or lobed (not in Australia); stipules absent. Inflorescences cymose, in corymbs, thyrses or panicles or flowers solitary (not in Australia). Flowers bisexual or unisexual, fertile or sterile; fertile flowers actinomorphic; sterile flowers zygomorphic, with enlarged showy sepals, marginal in inflorescence; sepals 4–12, free (not in Australia) or united at base; petals 4–12, ± free or completely fused and calyptrate (not in Australia), imbricate (not in Australia), valvate or convolute (not in Australia); stamens 4–numerous, free or united at base (not in Australia); anthers tetrasporangiate, dehiscing by longitudinal slits. Ovary inferior or semi-inferior, 2–12-carpellate, 1–12-locular; placentation usually axile proximally and parietal distally or rarely completely axile (not in Australia) or parietal; ovules 1–many per locule; styles 1–12; stigma terminal or decurrent along style. Fruit a capsule with loculicidal (not in Australia), septicidal, interstylar or intercostal (not in Australia) dehiscence, rarely a berry (not in Australia). Seeds endospermic, small; testa reticulate.
Many genera are valued ornamentals particularly Deutzia, Hydrangea and Philadelphus. Deutzia and Dichroa febrifuga are of medicinal significance with both being traditionally used to treat malaria, and Deutzia has been used to treat enuresis and scabies (Hufford 2004).
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