Trees or shrubs, evergreen, hermaphroditic (?or functionally andromonoecious), unarmed. Leaves simple, palmately lobed, or palmately compound and leaflets 3-7, margin entire or serrate; stipules absent or connate into a short lamina within petiole or absent. Inflorescence a terminal panicle of umbels; secondary axes with a terminal umbel of bisexual flowers, sometimes also with lateral umbels of smaller, later flowering (?functionally male) flowers; bracts small, caducous. Pedicels articulate below ovary, often minutely bracteolate. Calyx entire or 5-toothed. Petals 5, valvate. Stamens 5. Ovary 2(or 3)-carpellate; styles united into a column or partially free apically. Fruit a drupe, subglobose or ovoid, sometimes laterally compressed (especially when dry). Seeds semiterete or laterally compressed; endosperm uniform, ruminate or rugose.

About 20 species: S and SE Asia; seven species (five endemic) in China.