Climbing or erect shrubs, rarely small trees. Indumentum of simple hairs or absent. Flowers bisexual, pedicellate, solitary or in extra-axillary cymes, rarely terminal, mostly the peduncle thick and hooked; bracts and bracteoles small, usually deciduous. Sepals 3, valvate, free or ± united at base, equal or smaller than petals. Petals 6, in two whorls, valvate, subequal, free, usually concave at base and connivent over the stamens and carpels. Stamens numerous, sometimes the outer ones staminodes, linear-oblong or cuneiform; filament very short or absent; anther-cells extrorse, connective-tip dilated, truncate or apiculate. Carpels numerous, free, ovoid or ellipsoid with 2 basal ovules. Monocarps indehiscent, usually fleshy, cylindric or ellipsoid, mostly sessile, 1-2-seeded.