Trees deciduous, monoecious. Branchlets with chambered pith. Terminal buds oblong, naked, or with 2-4 overlapping scales. Leaves odd- or even-pinnate; leaflets 5-21(-25), margin serrate. Inflorescences lateral or terminal on old or new growth, pendulous; male and female inflorescences separate: male spike solitary, lateral on old growth or at base of new growth; female spike terminal on new growth. Male flowers with an entire bract; bracteoles 2; sepals 4; stamens 5-18, anthers glabrous or pubescent. Female flowers with a small, entire bract, adnate to ovary but nearly free at base; bracteoles 2, adnate to ovary but nearly free above bract on posterior side; sepals 4, adnate to ovary, free at apex; style short; stigmas carinal, 2-lobed, plumose. Fruiting spike elongate, pendulous. Fruit a 2-winged nutlet, 4-chambered at base. Germination epigeal.

Six species: E and SW Asia; five species (two endemic) in China.