Small trees. Leaves oblong or ovate, entire or repand, petiolate, stipulate. Cymes axillary, the upper forming terminal panicles; flowers hermaphrodite or unisexual. Calyx campanulate, 2–3-lobed. Petals 5, narrowed to the base, without glands. Androgynophore not developed. Stamens numerous, ± united at base. Ovary sessile, 2-lobed, 2-locular (2–4-locular fide Hutchinson); ovules 1(–2) per locule, pendulous; style obsolete or short; stigma sessile, large and spreading, lacerate or 2-lobed. Fruit 2-lobed, usually one-seeded, at least that of the East African species indehiscent, each lobe with 2 unequal horizontally spreading wings in the vertical plane. Seed large, hairy at least apically, with coriaceous testa and fleshy endosperm.