Small or medium trees; young parts rusty-tomentose. Leaves pinnate; leaflets entire or more commonly toothed, at least in the upper part, the middle leaflets a little larger than the others. Inflorescence an axillary or terminal paniculate thyrse; flowers regular, unisexual, in clusters subtended by bracts, each inflorescence successively male, female and finally male. Sepals 5, valvate, joined at the base, densely hairy outside; petals 5, clawed, widest just below the apex, with a scale which is reflexed and bearded at the tip; disk circular, glabrous, the outer part flat, lobed, the inner a raised rim, together resembling a cup and saucer. Stamens 10–13; filaments folded in bud, glabrous or hairy; anthers oblong, dorsifixed. Ovary 3-locular; style undivided. Fruit a 3-valved dehiscent ellipsoid or obovoid capsule, externally hairy, internally glabrous. Seeds 3, trigonous in cross-section, enclosed almost totally by a waxy aril.