Trees, dioecious. Leaves spirally arranged; lamina pinnately veined, entire; stipules fused, semi-amplexicaul. Inflorescences unisexual (or rarely bisexual), solitary in the leaf axils, pedunculate, with 3-8 large basally attached bracts at the base of the head, interfloral bracts with free apices similar to the free parts of the tepals, discoid to cushion shaped to aculeate. Staminate inflorescences (sub)globose or obovoid; flowers numerous, connate; perianth tubular, free parts thickened, cushion shaped to aculeate; stamens 1-3, mostly 2, filaments free or partly connate. Pistillate inflorescences (sub)globose; flowers numerous, connate except for the apices, apices discoid to cushion shaped to aculeate; ovary free, stigma 1. Infructescences with the indurated surface areolate or with cushion shaped to pyramidate to spinose processes; fruit with a firm exocarp finally decaying and leaving the stony endocarp; seed with remains of endosperm present, embryo curved, cotyledons incumbent and unequal, radicle long.
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