Trees evergreen. Branchlet pith usually with vascular strands. Leaves alternate, odd-pinnate, stipulate or exstipulate. Flowers in terminal or axillary panicles, unisexual. Calyx cupular or campanulate, 3-lobed or -fid, valvate. Petals 3, imbricate below or valvate, usually exceeding calyx. Stamens 6, free to connate, inserted on margin or outside of disk. Ovary 2- or 3-celled; ovules 2 in each cell; style short to long; stigma capitate. Drupe usually ellipsoid, ± distinctly trigonous, with a 1-3-celled, 1-3-seeded pyrene; cotyledons often partite, contortuplicate.

About 75 species: mainly in tropical Africa, Asia to NE Oceania and Pacific islands; seven species in China.