Mostly unarmed trees, erect shrubs or herbs. Leaves alternate very rarely opposite, usually uni to tripinnate compound, rarely simple, stipule auricle-like or sheathing or absent; leaflets usually dentate, petiolulate. Inflorescence of leaf-opposed corymbose cymes, peduncle often rusty tomentose, never modified into tendrils. Flowers usually white or whitish; sepals (4-)5 united into a cupular, shortly toothed cup-like hypanthium. Petals (4-)5, free or basally united and adherent to staminal tube, reflexed. Stamens united at the base into a short or long 5- lobed epipetalous staminal tube, anthers alternating with bifid or entire lobes of staminal tube, extrorse. Ovary (3-)4-5(-8) locular, locules uniovulate, syncarpous, superior, angular, often sunken in the disc; style simple, with an insignificant stigma. Fruit berry. Seeds wedge-shaped.