Trees, less commonly shrubs. Leaves 3–5-veined; petiole generally short. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, umbellate, cymose, paniculate or of nearly sessile clusters, flowers rarely solitary, with small, paired, connate bracts and bracteoles. Flowers 4-merous. Hypanthium campanulate, with external pattern of plates or setose appendages. Calyx lobes relatively indistinct, as short teeth or absent, generally persistent in fruit. Petals broadly ovate to suborbicular, white, yellow, blue or purple. Stamens 8, isomorphic; anthers dolabriform to oblong, with lateral slits; connective not prolonged, but usually distinctly thickened, with at most a small calcarate dorsal appendage and no ventral appendage. Ovary 4-locular, the summit glabrous; ovules numerous on parietal placentas; style filiform. Fruit fleshy, indehiscent. Seeds numerous, small, cuneate and minutely tuberculate.
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