Trees or shrubs, dioecious; indumentum of stellate hairs; branches terete, with prominent pith. Leaves alternate [or opposite]; stipules present; petiole long, junction with leaf blade usually with 2 glands; leaf blade simple, entire; venation pinnate. Inflorescences axillary, paniculate. Male flowers almost sessile, clustered in bract-axils; calyx cupular, 3-5-lobed; petals absent; disk margin shallowly lobed; stamens 5-12 in 2 or 3 series, inserted on raised receptacle; filaments short, free; anthers bilocular; pistillode absent. Female flowers in racemelike inflorescences, sometimes branched; calyx cupular, shallowly 3-5-lobed; petals absent; disk annular; ovary 2-6-locular; ovules 1 per locule; styles very short, confluent into a cap or disk. Fruit a drupe; exocarp slightly fleshy, 2- or 3-locular. Seeds not carunculate.

About ten species: from China to Malaysia, New Guinea, and tropical Australia (Queensland); one species in China.

(Authors: Li Bingtao (李秉滔 Li Ping-tao); Michael G. Gilbert)