Monoecious, andromonoecious or polygamomonoecious trees or shrubs, sometimes vines (not in Australia). Leaves alternate or subopposite to whorled, sometimes spiral, simple, entire or serrate, petiolate; stipules absent. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, racemose or paniculate. Flowers bisexual or unisexual, actinomorphic or zygomorphic (Paracryphia), sessile (Paracryphia) or pedicellate; staminate flowers completely lacking a gynoecium or gynoecium rudimentary; pistillate flowers with (Quintinia) or without (Paracryphia) staminodes. Perianth of differentiated sepals and petals or undifferentiated. Undifferentiated perianth (Paracryphia) segments free, decussate, with one larger helmet-shaped segment that encloses others, caducous. Sepals (Quintinia, Sphenostemon) 4–6, free and imbricate (Sphenostemon) or fused (Quintinia), sometimes hooded (Sphenostemon). Petals (Quintinia, Sphenostemon sect. Sphenostemon) 4–6, free, sometimes similar in texture to petals but fleshier (Sphenostemon sect. Sphenostemon), caducous. Stamens 4–6 or 8–13 (not in Australia), in a single whorl, free; filaments almost absent to well developed; anthers basifixed, tetrasporangiate, dehiscing by longitudinal slits. Ovary inferior (Quintinia) or superior, 2–5-or 8–15 (not in Australia)-carpellate; placentation axile (Paracryphia) or parietal; ovules 1 (Sphenostemon), 4 (Paracryphia) or several (Quintinia) per locule; style elongated (Quintinia) or absent; stigma 2–4 or 8–15 (Paracryphia)-lobed. Fruit a septicidal capsule or a berry (Sphenostemon). Seed winged or not, with endosperm.
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