Shrubs or trees, evergreen. Stipules persistent. Leaves simple, alternate. Flowers axillary, bisexual, actinomorphic, arranged into pseudospikes or pseudoracemes along branchlets below apex. Bracteoles 2, persistent, close to calyx. Sepals 5, persistent, unequal, imbricate. Petals 5, white, imbricate in bud, basally slightly connate. Stamens 5, inflexed in bud, alternate with petals, shorter than petals; anthers small, 2-celled, dehiscing by apical pores. Ovary superior, 5-loculed; ovules 2 per locule, collateral, pendulous from locule apex; style simple, apically 5-lobed. Capsule 5-loculed, loculicidal. Seeds 2 per locule; embryo U-shaped; endosperm very thin.

This family is sometimes included in the subfamily Ternstroemioideae within the Theaceae.

Ming Tien lu. 1980. Pentaphylacaceae. In: Cheng Mien & Ming Tien lu, eds., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 45(1): 135-138.

One species: China, Indonesia (N Sumatra), Malaysia, Vietnam.

(Authors: Min Tianlu (闵天禄 Ming Tien-lu); Bruce Bartholomew)