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Trees or shrubs. Branches ± terete, without stellate hairs. Leaves decussate, simple, petiolate. Inflorescence usually a pedunculate, terminal, much-branched, corymbose cyme, initially trichotomously and finally dichotomously branched. Flowers small, bracteate. Calyx campanulate, toothed or truncate, obscurely 2-lipped with 1 lip 2-toothed or entire, the other 3-toothed or entire, persistent. Corolla ± 2-lipped from base, the upper lip usually entire, lower 3-lobed with the mid-lobe larger; tube with dense white hairs inside in upper half. Stamens 4, exserted, didynamous, inserted on top of corolla tube and alternating with lobes. Ovary 4-locular; ovules 1 per locule; style slender. Drupe small, succulent.
Corolla hypocrateriform; tube short, infudibular or cylindric, villous or with a ring of hairs; limb 2-lipped, with the posterior lip 2-fid or emarginate and the anterior 3-fid or 3-partite, with the lobes subequal or the median one the largest, or ± regularly 4-fid.
Fruit drupaceous, small, with a thin fleshy mesocarp and bony endocarp; pyrene 4-locular or 2–3-locular by abortion; calycine cup persistent, often venose Seeds oblong, without albumen.
Stamens 4, didynamous or subequal, inserted near or at the throat of corolla tube, included or ± exserted; anthers dorsifixed, ovoid or subglobose, with divergent thecae.
Ovary 2-locular with 2 ovules per loculus, or 4-locular by means of false septa and each locule 1-ovulate; style filiform subequalling the stamens; stigma 2-fid.
Inflorescences terminal, usually many-flowered, with flowers in cymes corymbosely, racemosely or paniculately arranged, rarely the inflorescences axillary.
Calyx cupuliform or campanulate, usually actinomorphic, truncate to 3–5-dentate or 2–5-lobed, or sometimes c. 2-lipped, somewhat accrescent in fruit.
Leaves petiolate, opposite or 3–4-whorled, simple, entire or dentate, often with minute spherical glands and aromatic when crushed.
Trees shrubs climbers or subshrubs, glabrous to densely hairy.
Flowers hermaphrodite or polygamous, small and dull-coloured.
