Small to moderately large trees, up to 30 m. Leaves opposite and decussate or less commonly whorled, simple, entire or shallowly crenate, petiolate; tuft domatia occasional. Stipules ovate or oblong, entire, early caducous. Inflorescences usually axillary, frequently composed of 2 or 3 subunits arranged in series in opposite axils of leaves with upper one largest, and rarely terminal, each subunit paniculate with peduncle c. 1/4-1/2 of length of inflorescence, the major branches serially arranged, the flowers in dense terminal clusters of up to c. 16, or in lax, subspherical clusters with some scattered subdistal flowers (racemes), with small caducous bracts at nodes and subtending the flowers. Flowers bisexual, (4-)5(-6)-merous (except for gynoecium), apetalous, appearing slightly protandrous. Hypanthium conical. Calyx lobes imbricate. Stamens with filaments thin, subulate and anthers broadly reniform, with a shortly extended connective at the apex and deeply incised at the base. Disc consisting of free glabrous lobes alternating with stamens, or lobes paired and some or all pairs of lobes connate inside alternisepalous stamens. Ovary semi-inferior, hirsute, 2-or rarely 3-carpellate, the cells in superior part loosely connate, each cell with usually 4 (6 in Australian species) ovules in 2 rows; styles conical and hirsute at base, to cylindrical and glabrous at apex. Fruit inde-hiscent, the pericarp not adhering to the seeds, not or scarcely larger than the ovary in flower, the calyx lobes persistent, slightly enlarged, chartaceous, erect or somewhat spreading, the styles persistent, elongated, stiff, exserted; endocarp cartilaginous. Seeds minute, glabrous, flattened, perhaps slightly winged.
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