Plants trees or shrubs, monoecious or with perfect flowers. Leaves alternate, simple, pinnately or palmately veined, the margins toothed or lobed. Stipules present. Inflorescences small clusters or dense headlike clusters, with individual inflorescences all pistillate or all staminate in monoecious species. Flowers actinomorphic. Calyces absent or of 4 sepals, these fused toward the base. Corollas absent or of 4 free petals. Stamens 4–8(–10), free. Staminodes sometimes present. Ovary partially inferior, 2-locular, the placentation apical or axile. Styles 2, often curled or reflexed, the stigmas small iregular areas at the style tip, sometimes extended somewhat along the side. Fruits 2-valved capsules, solitary or fused into groups of several to many. About 30 genera, about 100 species, widespread in warm-temperate and tropical areas.