Trees or shrubs deciduous. Branchlet pith without vascular strands, pubescent. Leaves odd-pinnate, alternate, usually stipulate, crowded toward ends of branches; leaflets opposite, subsessile or with petiolule, serrate; stipels usually present. Flowers bisexual, in much-branched panicles, present before leaves, usually crowded toward end of branches, 5-merous; receptacle concave, globose or cupular. Sepals nearly free, deltoid, valvate. Petals inserted at edge of disk, valvate, apex incurved in bud, later recurved. Disk 10-grooved. Stamens 10, inserted in grooves at margin of disk; filaments subulate, base hairy; anthers oblong. Ovary subsessile or sessile, 4- or 5-celled; ovules 2 in each cell; style short; stigma capitate, shallowly 4- or 5-lobed. Drupe subglobose; pyrenes 1-5, small, bony, grooved. Seeds with membranous testa; cotyledons folded.

About four species: tropical Asia, N Oceania, and some Pacific islands; four species (one endemic) in China.