Evergreen trees, andro-monoecious with functionally staminate and bisexual flowers in same inflorescence. Leaves petiolate, simple; leaf blade margin entire. Inflorescence a terminal pleiothyrsoid. Flowers small, 4- or 5-merous, with imbricate aestivation. Sepals sometimes united at base. Petals with 1-5 prominent veins adaxially. Stamens 5, free or united with disk basally, usually 1(or 2) noticeably larger. Disk of 5 separate extrastaminal glands. Ovary glabrous, 1-locular, 1-ovulate; style 1, terminal. Fruit drupaceous; mesocarp fleshy or fibrous; endocarp thick and bony, compressed. Embryo 1 to several by polyembryony.

About 69 species: tropical Asia; five species (one endemic, one introduced) in China.