Trees or shrubs. Branchlets usually lenticellate, without prickles. Stipules spinose (at least on young plants), in pairs, ±straight, sometimes inconspicuous or absent (caducous), often larger and more prominent on young growth. Leaves bipinnate; foliar glands normally present (petiole usually glandular). Inflorescences simple, 1–6 in axils, or in short or extending ‘racemes’ in axils; peduncles with an involucel of bracts above the base (sometimes at apex of peduncles and hidden by flowers); flowers arranged in globular heads (8–20 mm diam.) or rarely spikes, normally white or cream-coloured to pale yellow to bright yellow; flowers without a gynophore, (4) 5 (6)-merous; sepals united; corolla gamopetalous; stamens numerous. Pods ±cylindrical, turgid and indehiscent (V. farnesiana) or ±flat, coriaceous to woody and dehiscent.
A number of species have been used in medicines, cosmetics (e.g. essential oil in perfumes), as ornamentals and for their tannin and gum.
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