Scandent or liana-like shrubs or small trees, with interxylary bast elements, watch-spring tendrils (modified leaves or subtending leaves of inflorescences), and umbrella-like branching. Leaves spiral, simple, serrulate to crenulate, stipulate. Flowers small, regular, monoecious, in glomerules on the branches of loose axillary panicles. Sepals 5, vaJvate, shortly united basally, persistent. Petals 5(-6), much smaller than the sepals, free. Stamens 5(-6), opposite to the sepals, with filiform filaments and subglobose introrse, almost basifixed anthers, alternating with 5(-6) oppositipetalous cordate glands, these in the ♂ ± adnate to the subtending petal, and in the ♀ ± concrescent into a 5(-6)-lobed disk (the glands or lobes opposite the ovary cells); pollen grains ± ellipsoidal, tricolporate, exine reticulate. Ovary superior, conical, shallowly 5-ribbed, 5(-4)-celled, with 5(-4) sessile subulate stigmas; ovules 2 per cell, pendulous, apical, axile, anatropous, epitropous, bitegmic, each surmounted at the micropyle by a small obturator-like appendage coming from the funicle. Fruit obovoid or ellipsoid, indehiscent, fusiform, 1-locular, 1-seeded, with 5 broad stramineous wings. Seed oblong, with endosperm; embryo erect, with oblong cotyledons and a short erect radicle.
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