Shrubs, sometimes small trees, ascending or clambering, evergreen or deciduous, glabrous, rarely pubescent. Leaves opposite, rarely also alternate or whorled, entire, serrulate, or crenate, stipulate. Inflorescences axillary, occasionally terminal, cymose. Flowers bisexual, 4(or 5)-merous; petals light yellow to dark purple. Disk fleshy, annular, 4- or 5-lobed, intrastaminal or stamens on disk; anthers longitudinally or obliquely dehiscent, introrse. Ovary 4- or 5-locular; ovules erect to pendulous, 2(-12) per locule. Capsule globose, rugose, prickly, laterally winged or deeply lobed, occasionally only 1-3 lobes developing, loculicidally dehiscent. Seeds 1 to several, typically 2 developing, ellipsoid; aril basal to enveloping seed.

Euonymus omeiensis W. P. Fang (J. Sichuan Univ., Nat. Sci. Ed. 1: 38. 1955) was described from Sichuan (Emei Shan, Shishungou, ca. 1300 m). This putative species was misdiagnosed; it is a synonym of Reevesia pubescens Masters in the Sterculiaceae (see Fl. China 12: 317. 2007). The protologue describes the fruit as having bracts.

The placement of Euonymus tibeticus W. W. Smith (Rec. Bot. Surv. India 4: 264. 1911), described from Xizang (3000-3100 m) and also occurring in Bhutan (Lhakhang) and India (Sikkim), is unclear, as only a specimen with flower buds is available.

Euonymus cinereus M. A. Lawson (in J. D. Hooker, Fl. Brit. India 1: 611. 1875) was described from India. The occurrence of this species in China (FRPS 45(3): 24. 1999) has not been confirmed.

Two subgenera and ca. 130 species: Asia, Australasia, Europe, Madagascar, North America; 90 species (50 endemic, one introduced) in China.

(Authors: Ma Jinshuang (马金双); A. Michele Funston)