Perennial deciduous climbing precocious shrubs. Stem succulent, corky. Leaves membranous, basal nerves 7. Flowers in axillary terminal racemes or panicles. Sepals 6, 2-seriate, the 3 inner larger and membranous. Petals 6, smaller than the sepals. Male flowers: stamens 6; filaments free, apex thickened, anthers obliquely adnate. Female flowers: staminodes 6, clavate; carpels 3, stigmas broad. Drupes 1-3; style scar terminal, endocarp rugose. Seed usually curved round the intruded endocarp, albumen ruminate.