Shrubs evergreen, small or creeping. Leaves densely verticillate, subverticillate, or decussate, sessile, margin entire; stipules absent. Inflorescences axillary on upper part of branchlets, 1–3-flowered; bracts (2–)4 or 5(or 6), scalelike. Flowers small, inconspicuous, unisexual (plants monoecious or dioecious). Sepals 3–6, imbricate in bud, petaloid. Petals absent. Stamens 3(–6), exserted; anthers 2-celled, longitudinally dehiscent. Ovary superior, subglobose, apically depressed, 6–9-loculed; ovules l per locule; style 1, short or indistinct; stigma 6–9(–12)-lobed. Fruit globose or subglobose, drupaceous; pericarp red, purple, or black when ripe, fleshy. Pyrenes 1 per locule, 1-seeded.

Two to several species: N temperate regions, South America (Andes), S Atlantic Islands (Falkland Islands, Tristan da Cunha); one species in China.

(Authors: Min Tianlu (闵天禄 Ming Tien-lu); Arne Anderberg)