Shrubs or trees, rarely climbers. Leaves alternate, simple or imparipinnately compound, exstipulate. Inflorescence terminal or axillary, of few-flowered pedunculate cymes or panicles, rarely a simple raceme. Flowers bisexual or unisexual (plants then polygamo-dioecious), zygomorphic. Sepals (3-)4-5, free or basally connate, imbricate, persistent. Petals (3-)4-5(-6), mostly free, equal or unequal, antisepalous, imbricate. Stamens as many as petals, equal or unequal, antipetalous, all or only 2 larger fertile, the rest staminodial, anthers ovoid-globose, dithecous, with flattened connectives. Disc angular or cupular, dentate or lobed. Carpels 2-3, completely or slightly syncarpous; ovary superior, 2-3-locular, each locule with 2 semi-anatropous ovules on axile placentae; styles 2-3, free or united, stigma simple or 2-3-lobed. Fruit a subglobose drupe, 1-2-locular, 1-seeded, endocarp bony, exocarp fleshy, rarely dry and leathery. Seeds with or without endosperm.