Trees or shrubs, glabrous; monoecious or rarely dioecious; milky latex in stems. Leaves alternate, simple, petiolate, usually with two glands near apex; stipules small. Inflorescences spicate, terminal, bisexual. Staminate flowers in several-flowered clusters at distal nodes, subtending bract biglandular; calyx gamosepalous, 2-3-lobed; corolla and disc absent; stamens 2 or 3, the filaments free or connate at base, the anthers extrorse; pollen grains subglobose, tectate, 3-colporate. Pistillate flowers solitary at proximal nodes, subtending bracts usually biglandular; calyx gamosepalous (2-) 3-5-lobed, sometimes obscurely so; corolla and disc absent; carpels 3 (rarely 2), each with a single ovule, the 3 styles sim-ple, usually connate at least at base, the stylar column often early-deciduous. Fruit capsular, sometimes fleshy or somewhat woody, the columella usually persistent; seeds rounded, outer seed-coat fleshy, ecarunculate.
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