Trees or shrubs, usually spiny. Leaves alternate, sometimes closely clustered at end of branchlets; not stipulate. Flowers axillary, solitary or fascicled, 5-merous; bracts small. Calyx short tubular, sepals usually lanceolate, persistent. Corolla lobes longer than tube, inside with hairs. Stamens usually inserted at base of corolla lobes; filaments usually with a cluster of rust colored villous hairs on each side, rarely on one side or at base; anthers sagittate with long connective; staminodes petal-like, margins fimbriate, rarely dentate or entire, apex usually long awned. Ovary (4- or)5-locular, densely hirsute. Style longer than corolla. Fruit drupaceous, 1- or 2(or 3)-seeded. Seeds compressed, ellipsoid to subglobose; seed coat crusty, scar ovate to linear, 2/3 as long to as long as seed or small and rounded.

About 14 species: Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam; four species in China.