Trees; dioecious or rarely monoecious. Leaves alternate, simple, petiolate; stipules small or obsolete. Inflorescences axillary consisting of small clusters of stalked globose involucres each enclosing 3-10 sessile flowers; involucres 1-2 bracteolate at base, opening laterally at anthesis or valvate or, in one species, almost lacking. Staminate flowers 3-10, not all fully formed; calyx gamosepalous with 3 acuminate lobes; stamens 2-5, the filaments short and free or longer and basally connate, the anthers dorsifixed near base and longitudinally dehiscent; pollen grains prolate, tectate, 3-colporate. Pistillate flowers 2-5; naked; ovary 3-carpellate each with a single ovule, the 3 short styles connate basally. Fruit capsular, somewhat woody, dehiscence valvate; seeds ovoid or obovoid, compressed, smooth, shiny, carunculate.
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