Trees or climbers, dioecious. Leaves distichous; lamina pinnately veined, entire; stipules free, lateral. Inflorescences unisexual, solitary or in pairs in the leaf axils, globose-to obovoid-capitate, pedunculate, with peltate, subpeltate, clavate or spathulate interfloral bracts. Staminate flowers numerous; perianth tubular, 2-lobed to entire; stamen 1. Pistillate flowers numerous, free; perianth tubular; ovary free, stigmas 2. Infructescences with enlarged perianths of some (1-20) of the flowers, the bracts not enlarged; pericarp membranaceous; seed with the testa absorbed except the thickened saucer-shaped basal portion, endosperm absent, embryo straight, longitudinally aligned, cotyledons equal, appressed faces oblique to median plane of ovary, radicle apical, minute; interfloral bracts persistent.
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