Annual to perennial herbs or undershrubs to trees, usually with stellate pubescence. Leaves various, with or without lobes. Flowers axillary, usually solitary, occasionally fasciculate or in racemes or panicles by reduction of leaves; pedicel with or without joint. Epicalyx segments 3-many, rarely absent, free or connate, rarely adnate to calyx, persistent or sometimes caducous. Calyx 5-lobed to partite, campanulate, persistent. Corolla of various colours; petals 3. Staminal column inserted or exserted or equal, almost antheriferous throughout or only in the upper half. Carpels 5, syncarpous; ovary usually 5-loculed, each locule 3-many ovuled; style 5-branched above, connate below. Fruit loculicidally dehiscent capsule, usually 5-celled. Seeds 3-many in each cell, glabrous or variously pubescent, angular, globose or reniform.