Shrubs or low trees. Branchlets often spine-tipped. Leaves alternate or fascicled on short shoots; veins pinnate. Inflorescences a fascicle or cyme. Calyx cupular, 4- or 5-dentate, persistent, not accrescent. Petals 4 or 5, free, densely villous on inside, apical 1/2 revolute. Stamens 8 or 10; filaments filiform; anthers linear. Disk absent. Ovary superior, (3 or)4-loculed, placenta axile; ovules 3 or 4. Style ± slender; stigma capitate. Drupe ovoid, 1-seeded.

Eight species: mostly in tropical America, one species restricted to Africa, one species ± pantropical; one species in China.