Inflorescences 6–10 cm; bracts cream, 8–15 × 4–8 mm. Flowers: sepals 5–8 × 2–4 cm; petals oblong, 8–10 × 4–6 cm, base slightly saccate, apex fimbriate; stamens 0.8–1.1 cm; anthers erect at anthesis, cream, 3–4 mm; ovary 3–5 × 4–5 mm, glabrous; style 1.5–2.5 × 2 mm; stigma apex lobed. Berries 1 cm diam. Seeds 0.2–0.5 mm diam. 2n = 52.
Shrubs or trees, multicellular hairs present or, sometimes, absent (Comarostaphylis); bark smooth, not furrowed, often flaky, sometimes shredding. Stems erect or prostrate. Leaves persistent (deciduous in Arctous), usually alternate, sometimes opposite or whorled (Ornithostaphylos), rarely opposite (Xylococcus); petiole usually present, sometimes absent (Arctostaphylos); blade plane, abaxial groove absent. Inflorescences terminal, panicles or racemes; perulae absent; bracts much shorter than sepals; bracteoles 2 or absent (Arctostaphylos, Arctous). Flowers pendulous; sepals (4–)5; petals (4–)5, connate, corolla deciduous, usually urceolate, sometimes cylindric, conic, or globose, lobes much shorter than tube; intrastaminal nectary disc present; stamens (8–)10; anthers dehiscent by slits or pores; ovary 2–10-locular; placentation axile; style straight. Fruits drupaceous (baccate in Arbutus), (pulp mealy or juicy), indehiscent; pyrenes 1–5, often connate into stonelike endocarp. Seeds 1–10, usually distinct, sometimes connate, globose (sometimes 3-sided), not winged.
