Trees or shrubs. Leaves simple, spirally inserted; leaf blade margin entire. Inflorescence paniculate, terminal or axillary. Flowers small, bisexual, 5-merous, white, fragrant, sessile to shortly pedicellate. Calyx small, with 4-6 rounded lobes. Petals imbricate in bud. Stamens 2 × as many as petals; anthers lanceolate to oblong, often sagittate. Disk intrastaminal, cupular, sulcate to crenulate. Carpels 4-6 free, usually only 1 fertile; ovary 1-locular, 1-ovulate; style short; stigma capitate. Drupe with a thick woody endocarp. Seed testa not adnate to endocarp.

About 25 species: tropical Asia ranging through India to Samoa; four species (one endemic) in China.