Trees or shrubs, dioecious, rarely monoecious; indumentum of simple hairs, sparse. Leaves alternate, petiolate; leaf blade simple, margin entire; venation pinnate. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, racemelike thyrses or cymes, usually few flowered. Male flowers: calyx cupular, rim 5-toothed or shortly 5-lobed; petals 5, free; disk glands 5, alternating with petals; stamens 10-15, outside 5 free, inner ones connate into column; pistillode absent. Female flowers: calyx 5-partite, imbricate, accrescent, persistent; petals 5, disk annular; ovary 3-locular; ovules 1 per locule; styles 3, connate at base, each bifid. Fruit a capsule, 3-locular; endocarp crustaceous; ovules 1 per locule. Seeds ellipsoidal; endosperm fleshy; cotyledon broad and flat.

About 15 species: mainly in tropical Asia (India and Sri Lanka to S China and Borneo) but extending to Australia; one species in China.

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