Trees, evergreen, with vessel-less wood. Terminal bud at first enclosed by stipule, later free. Stipule adnate to petiole. Leaves simple, alternate on long, 1-year-old branchlets or single and subterminal on short, many-year-old branchlets, marked by crowded concentric scars from petiole bases and bud scales from former years; leaf blade palmately veined. Inflorescences catkinlike multiflowered spikes, borne near base of petiole at apex of short branchlets. Flowers bisexual, in whorls of 4 alternating on inflorescence, 4-merous. Sepals 4. Petals absent. Stamens 4, opposite sepals; anthers basifixed. Ovary superior; carpels 4, alternating with stamens, united at base, each 1-loculed; placenta 2 per locule, parallel along the locule ventral suture; ovules (5 or)6, attached near placenta middle, horizontal at anthesis. Seeds with oily endosperm; embryo minute.

This family has not yet been treated in FRPS.

One species: E Asia.

(Authors: Fu Dezhi; Bruce Bartholomew)