Shrubs or small trees, deciduous; young branches and leaves abaxially stellately tomentose; buds naked. Leaves petiolate; stipules linear-lanceolate, caducous, leaving small scars; leaf blade membranous or papery, slightly asymmetrical, margin usually serrulate, venation pinnate, 2 basal lateral veins usually with tertiary veins. Plants monoecious (or bisexual). Inflorescence spicate or racemose, terminal, pendent, most parts stellately tomentose; flowers bracteate and bracteolate. Flowers unisexual. Floral cup urceolate, enclosing most of flower. Sepals 5, narrowly spatulate, exserted from floral cup. Petals lacking or present as tiny rudiments. Male flowers: pedicellate; stamens 5, opposite to sepals, filaments very short; anthers ellipsoid, thecae 2-sporangiate, each dehiscing by 2 valves; ovary rudimentary. Female flowers: sessile; staminodes 5; ovary nearly superior but enclosed by floral cup; ovules 1 per locule; styles long, filiform, stigma decurrent, exserted from floral cup. Capsules ovoid-globose, woody, stellately tomentose, dehiscing by 2 valves; endocarp loose from exocarp. Seeds 1 per locule; endosperm fleshy. 2n = 24*, 48*.
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