Trees, shrubs, herbs. Leaf paripinnate or rarely reduced to phyllode; stipules of various shapes, petiolar glands often present. Inflorescence axillary or terminal raceme, terminal panicle or flowers subsolitary axillary; bracts and bracteoles variable. Calyx 5, imbricate, tube short. Petals 5, imbricate, subequal or lowermost larger. Stamens 10, all perfect or subequal or the upper ones smaller or imperfect or only 5 stamens; anthers uniform or upper ones smaller, dehiscing by an apical pore or short slit. Ovary sessile or stipitate, ovules numerous, style with terminal stigma. Fruit variable, terete or compressed, membranous or woody, often 2 valved, sometimes indehiscent, rarely winged lengthwise. Seeds mostly compressed, endospermous.