Small trees or shrubs, sometimes scandent shrubs. Leaves simple, alternate; stipules small, deciduous. Inflorescences axillary corymbose cymes, sometimes glomerate capitula; peduncles sometimes adnate with petioles. Flowers small, bisexual, rarely unisexual, actinomorphic or slightly zygomorphic. Sepals 5, free or partly connate, imbricate. Petals 5, free and equal or connate, unequal, apex 2-lobed or subentire. Stamens 5, alternate with petals, free or connate; anthers 2-loculed, dehiscence longitudinal, thickened on back of connective. Disk lobed, with 5 glands or disk annular, margin undulate, glands opposite to petals, free. Ovary superior or inferior, 2- or 3-locular; ovules 2, inverted in each locule; styles ± connate or free. Drupe dry or slightly fleshy; exocarp thin, easily burst. Seeds lacking endosperm; cotyledons fleshy.

Chen Pangyu. 1997. Dichapetalaceae. In: Chen Shukun, ed., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 43(3): 204-207.

Four genera and ca. 130 species: primarily in tropical and subtropical regions; one genus and two species in China.

(Authors: Chen Shukun (陈书坤); Ghillean T. Prance)