Climbing to erect shrubs, perennials rarely annuals. Leaves opposite, ternately or pinnately divided. Flowers solitary (-2-4) in fascicles or in paniculate cymes. Sepals 4-8, petaloid. Petals absent but filaments or staminodia sometimes petaloid. Stamens numerous. Carpels forming a small subglobose head. Ovules solitary, pendulous. Style often much elongating after flowering, plumose-hairy.