Shrubs, monoecious. Leaves simple, alternate, shortly petiolate; leaf blade entire, rarely divided; venation pinnate. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, male flowers in dense or lax racemelike thyrses, female flowers in umbel-like or racemelike inflorescences, sometimes 1 to several inserted at base of male inflorescences; bracts absent; pedicels delicate. Male flowers: sepals 4 or 5, imbricate; petals 4 or 5, shorter than sepals; disk glands scalelike; stamens 10-30, inserted on elevated receptacle; filaments free. Female flowers: pedicels stouter in upper part; sepals 5, accrescent or slightly so; petals absent; disk annular or divided; ovary 3- or 4-locular; ovules 1 per locule; styles 3, free, bifid. Capsule slightly depressed globose, with 3 longitudinal grooves. Seeds not strophiolate; endosperm fleshy; cotyledon broad and flat.

About ten species: tropical regions of Asia; four species in China.

(Authors: Li Bingtao (李秉滔 Li Ping-tao); Michael G. Gilbert)