Evergreen trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, pinnately veined. Flowers bisexual, cymose paniculate or subracemose. Perianth lobes 6, equal in size or sometimes outer ones slightly short, becoming leathery or woody after flowering. Fertile stamens 9, in 3 series; 1st and 2nd series without glands and with introrse 4-celled anthers; 3rd series with 2 glands and extrorse 4-celled anthers. Staminodes triangular or sagittate. Ovary ovoid or globose; stigma dish-shaped or capitate. Fruit ovoid, ellipsoid, or globose, rarely oblong, base surrounded by persistent and enlarged perianth lobes; fruiting pedicel not thickened or conspicuously thickened.

Up to 100 species: tropical and subtropical Asia; 35 species (27 endemic) in China.

(Authors: Wei Fa’nan (韦发南); Henk van der Werff)