Shrub or small to medium tree, evergreen, unarmed. Trichomes simple. Leaves opposite, simple. Inflorescences paniculate, axillary. Flowers bisexual, 4-merous. Sepals glabrous or nearly so adaxially. Petals valvate. Stamens 4; anthers rounded or emarginate at apex. Gynoecium 4-carpelled; carpels in ovary joined in the style, otherwise contiguous; ovules 2 per locule; style apical; stigma punctiform, finally becoming inconspicuously 4-parted. Fruit drupaceous, 1-carpelled and-loculed (3 of the 4 carpels abortive and deciduous); exocarp fleshy; mesocarp woody; endocarp cartilaginous. Seeds solitary; testa very thin and brittle, with sclerotesta; endosperm copious. Embryo straight; cotyledons flattened, ovate; hypocotyl terminal, considerably narrower than cotyledons.
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