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Stamens 8 to few (6–8), cuneate-quadrate (rarely linear) or flattened and staminodial, with thecae extrorse, ± parallel, and connective broadened, with or without an obliquely capitate prolongation; filaments usually present, sometimes longer than the anthers.
Carpels rather numerous to few (6), free; ovary clyindric or ellipsoid to obconic, with 1–4 (5) uniseriate ovules; style as long as the ovary or shorter, cylindric or obconic, oblique; stigma sub-capitate or tapering, often bifurcating.
Petals 6, in two ± unequal whorls, both valvate or rarely the inner imbricate, thick, free, the outer ± spreading at anthesis, the inner smaller, concave, often somewhat connivent and erect, usually shortly clawed.
Flowers bisexual or more rarely unisexual, solitary or in 2-to many-flowered cymes, extra-axillary or occasionally axillary, sometimes on leafless branches, pedicellate.
Shrubs or small trees, often climbing or scrambling, with simple (very rarely also forked or stellate) hairs.
Sepals 3, valvate, free or ± united, much shorter than the petals in bud, usually pubescent.
Bracteole 1, persistent, on the lower half of the pedicel, sometimes foliaceous.
Ripe carpels indehiscent, succulent, cylindric-torulose, stipitate, 1–4-seeded.
Flower-buds broadly ovoid or depressed-globose.
Leaves rarely bearing 2 small basal glands.
Seeds vertical, serial; aril absent.
