Shrubs or trees. Leaves alternate, petiolate, estipulate, the blade entire-margined or nearly so, 3-(5-)nerved from the base, with or without scattered pel-lucid dots. Inflorescences axillary or terminal, in simple or branched racemes, the pedicels short and articulated at the base, the bracts and bracteoles minute. Flowers hermaphriditic, small; calyx subglobose, at length valvately split to the base into 2-3(-5) spreading or reflexed membranous lobes; petals none; stamens 6-12, inserted around a cupular hypogynous disk and alternating with its lobes, the filaments shorter to longer than the anthers, the anthers basifixed, 2-thecate, longitudinally and extrorsely dehiscent; ovary free, 1-locular, the ovules oo, multiseriate on 3 broad, parietal placentas; styles 3, free to the base or not, short to elongate, the stigmas terminal. Capsules coriaceous, 3-valvate, few-to many-seeded; seeds small, the testa usually punctate, arillate; endosperm present.
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