Evergreen dioecious trees. Leaves sub-verticillate, entire, tri- or triplinerved. Flowers in umbels, surrounded by persistent bracts, usually sessile on the internodes. Florets 2-merous. Perianth of 2 whorls of 2 equal tepals. Male flower: Stamens 6 in 3 whorls; inner whorl with basal glands; anthers 4-celled, introrse; rudiment of pistil present or lacking. Female flower: 6 staminodes with glands, filaments slender, long; ovary with distinct style and peltate stigma. Fruit a juicy black berry, seated on a small, disc-like, shallow cup.