Trees; branchlets sometimes winged. Leaves alternate, simple, exstipulate. Flowers hermaphrodite, actinomorphic, in terminal panicles or axillary racemes or fasciculate on the old wood. Calyx cupular, entire or toothed. Petals 3–10, valvate, free or shortly connate. Stamens numerous, in several series on the margin of or on the disk, free or united towards the base; anthers 2-celled, opening by a pore or slit at the side or towards the top. Ovary superior, 3–6-celled; ovules 2 to several in each cell, axile. Fruit woody. Seeds with ruminate or uniform copious endosperm and linear embryo.