Shrubs or small trees, evergreen, hermaphroditic, unarmed, stellate pubescent. Leaves simple, entire or palmately lobed, margin coarsely dentate, otherwise entire; stipules deciduous. Inflorescence a terminal panicle of heads; bracts triangular; bracteoles 3 per flower, central one larger. Pedicels not articulate below ovary. Calyx rim 5-toothed. Petals 5, valvate. Stamens 5. Ovary 2-carpellate; styles 2, free, erect, short, persistent. Fruit a drupe, broadly globose, 1-seeded by abortion. Seeds ovoid, endosperm ruminate.

Sinopanax strongly resembles Oreopanax Decaisne & Planchon from tropical America, and recent phylogenetic studies confirm that they are closely related (e.g., Lowry et al., S. Afr. J. Bot. 70: 382-392. 2004; Plunkett et al., Pl. Syst. Evol. 245: 1-39. 2004).

● One species: China (Taiwan).