Shrubs or small trees. Trunks often with stilt roots clustered around base. Stipules lanceolate. Leaves crowded near shoot apex; leaf blade veins obscure on both surfaces. Inflorescences condensed cymes, pedunculate, 2- to many flowered. Bracteoles 2, partly connate. Calyx deeply 5- or 6-lobed. Petals 5 or 6, white, each embracing 2 stamens, cohering at base, margin with uncinate trichomes. Stamens twice as many as calyx lobes. Disk cupular, shallowly lobed. Ovary semi-inferior, 3-loculed; ovules 2 per locule; style short; stigma entire or shortly lobed. Fruit ovoid. Hypocotyl clavate, ridged and grooved, apically tapering.

Two species: E Africa, S and SE Asia, N Australia, Indian Ocean islands, Madagascar, New Guinea, Pacific islands; one species in China.