Trees or shrubs. Leaves compound, usually opposite, pinnate or trifoliolate, stipulate. Flowers bisexual or unisexual, regular, in racemes or panicles. Sepals 5, united or free, imbricate. Petals 5, free, imbricate. Stamens 5, alternating with the petals. Disc if present hypogynous. Carpels 3, rarely 2 or 4, free or united; ovary superior; placentation axile with numerous ovules. Fruit an inflated capsule, a drupe or a berry. Seeds few, with scanty endosperm.