Polygamous shrubs or small trees, with yellow wood and pungent-smelling resinous exudates. Leaves alternate, borne on slender petioles, simple, entire to slightly serrate. Inflorescence cymose or paniculate, terminal. Pedicel slender, 4-6 × longer than flower, further elongating and turning villous after anthesis in sterile flowers. Calyx 5-parted, lobes ovate-lanceolate, obtuse, persistent. Petals 5, 2 × as long as calyx. Stamens 5, shorter than petals; anthers ovate, shorter than filaments. Ovary obliquely compressed, 1-locular and 1-ovulate; styles 3. Drupe small, dark red to brown, reniform, compressed, glabrous or pubescent. Seed reniform, exalbuminous; seed coat thin; cotyledon complanate.

Five species: Asia, Europe, North America; three species (two endemic) in China.