Trees, shrubs or climbers, rarely herbs. Leaves simple or compound, alternate, exstipulate or stipules caducous; leaflets opposite or alternate, entire to lobed. Flowers small, usually paniculate, sometimes in cymes or fascicles, unisexual, actinomorphic or obliquely zygomorphic. Sepals 3-5, often unequal. Petals 3-5, sometimes absent, equal or unequal, often with basal scales. Disc unilateral or annular, sometimes absent in the male flower. Stamens 5-10; staminodes present. Ovary superior, centric or excentric, 1-6-locular; placentation axile, rarely parietal; ovules 1-2 in each locule. Fruit a nut, a berry or a capsule, sometimes winged. Seeds globose to oblong or compressed, often arillate.