Shrubs or trees, deciduous. Branchlets often rigid and spinose. Stipules 2, membranous, caducous, leaving a short transverse scar on each side of leaf base. Leaves distichous; leaf blade margin obtusely serrate; venation pinnate; secondary veins extending to margin, each ending in a tooth. Flowers appearing at same time as leaves, solitary or 2-4-clustered in leaf axil of young branches, polygamous, pedicellate. Perianth cupular, 4- or 5-parted. Stamens equal in number to tepals. Ovary laterally compressed, 1-loculed. Nutlet oblique, laterally compressed on both sides; perianth persistent, winged on apical half; wings crestlike. Embryo erect; cotyledons broad.

One species: China, Korea.