Trees, rarely shrubs, monoecious or dioecious. Leaves paripinnate, alternate, estipulate; leaflets entire, domatia usually present in axils of major veins. Thyrses axillary; bracts and bracteoles small. Flowers unisexual, actinomorphic. Calyx cupular, 5-lobed; lobes valvate. Petals (4 or)5, nearly as long as or slightly shorter than calyx, clawed, with 2 scales adaxially. Disk annular, entire or sometimes lobed. Stamens (male flowers) (7 or)8(-10), exserted; filaments filiform, hairy. Ovary (female flowers) obovoid, 2- or 3-loculed; ovules 1 per locule; style 2- or 3-lobed at apex. Capsules lobed into 2 or 3 schizocarps, usually only 1 or 2 developed, fertile schizocarps loculicidal, pericarp leathery. Seeds with crustaceous testa, wrapped with arillode; embryo curved.

About 28 species: SE Asia (also NE India), Australia, Pacific islands; one species in China.