Trees, shrubs or twiners, usually glabrous. Leaves simple, usually entire, alternate, exstipulate. Inflorescence corymbose or cymose. Flowers bisexual, pentamerous, hypogynous. Petals and sepals free or basally united, imbricate. Stamens 5, alternating with the petals. Carpels 2, rarely 3-5, syncarpous; ovary superior, 1-locular or 2-5-locular due to the ingrowing parietal placentae; style single; stigma capitate or lobed. Fruit a capsule or a berry; seeds winged or not.