Shrubs or small trees, unarmed. Raphides absent. Leaves opposite, decussate, apparently without domatia; stipules persistent, interpetiolar, generally triangular with apices often twisted together at 180° in bud. Inflorescences axillary, glomerulate, several flowered, sessile, bracteate. Flowers sessile, apparently bisexual or reportedly at least sometimes unisexual, fragrant. Calyx limb 4-or 5-lobed. Corolla white, shortly funnelform to subrotate, inside pubescent in throat; lobes 4 or 5, convolute in bud. Stamens 4 or 5, inserted in corolla tube, included or partially exserted; filaments short or reduced; anthers dorsifixed, pubescent on base and outer surface, with connective apically prolonged and widened. Ovary 2-celled, ovules 6-10 in each cell on axile placentas; stigma 2-lobed with lobes oblong and pubescent, exserted. Fruit baccate, fleshy, ovoid or subglobose, at least sometimes black, with calyx limb persistent; seeds several, medium-sized, flattened, angular, with testa thickly fibrous striate, with hilum terminal and rather broad; endosperm fleshy; embryo small; cotyledons ovate, flat; radicle terete.
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