Shrubs or trees, monoecious or dioecious; indumentum, when present, of simple hairs. Leaves alternate; petiole usually long, apex with 2 glands; leaf blade simple, margin glandular-serrate; venation palmate, basal veins 3. Inflorescences axillary or subterminal, racemelike thyrses, branched or unbranched. Male flowers: sepals 5, unequal, imbricate; petals 5, longer than calyx; disk 5-lobed or disk glands free; stamens 20-40, free; filaments pubescent; pistillode absent. Female flower: calyx as in male, but larger; disk annular; ovary densely hairy, 3-locular; ovules 1 per locule; styles 3, deeply 2-lobed. Fruit a capsule, 3-locular. Seeds ellipsoid; testa crustaceous; endosperm fleshy; cotyledon broad and flat.

Three species: tropical Asia, from the E Himalayas to N Borneo; two species in China.

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