Shrubs or trees, evergreen, usually dioecious or monoclinous, unarmed. Leaves alternate, simple. Inflorescences terminal, thyrsiform. Sepals (3 or)4 or 5(-7), distinct or basally connate. Petals (3 or)4 or 5(-7), imbricate in bud. Stamens (3 or)4 or 5(-7), distinct, rudimentary in female flowers. Disk annular or pulvinate. Gynoecium 2-5-loculed, syncarpous, rudimentary in male flowers; ovules 1(or ?2) per locule; style short or ± as long as ovary. Fruit a fleshy drupaceous berry, with 1-5 1-seeded leathery pyrenes. Seeds ovoid to ellipsoid; seed coat membranous; endosperm copious; embryo straight; cotyledons oblong to suborbicular, flattened; hypocotyl superior.
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