Small trees or shrubs. Leaves simple, alternate, petiolate; margin entire or slightly serrate; stipules caducous. Flowers in axillary fascicles. Calyx 4-5 lobed, persistent.. Petals lacking. Stamens 10-12, alternating with the staminodes. Ovary ovoid, unilocular. Fruit capsular, globose or ovoid; dehiscence loculicidal. Seeds numerous, embedded in a fleshy aril.

A genus with about 250 species, mostly from America.

Lower Taxa

• Casearia graveolens Dalz.
• Casearia tomentosa Roxb.