Evergreen trees or shrubs, glabrous. Leaves opposite, decussate, entire, stipulate. Inflorescence axillary, cymose. Flowers bisexual, 5-merous. Disk fleshy, cupular, 5-lobed, intrastaminal; anthers longitudinally dehiscent, introrse. Ovary 2-locular or reduced to 1-locular; ovules erect, 2-8 per locule. Nut ellipsoid or obovoid, bony, with a prominent persistent lateral style. Seed 1, ovoid.

About five species: Old World tropics and subtropics; one species in China.

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