Liane or small erect shrub. Leaves simple. Male inflorescences of corymbose panicles or condensed cymes. Male flowers sessile or shortly pedicellate; sepals 9–24, pubescent to hairy on the outer side, the 3–12 outer bract-like, sublinear to subovate, the 3–6 median subspathulate or similar to the outer ones, the inner ovate-elliptic, much larger than the others; petals 3–6, inserted at the base of the androecium, small and glabrous; stamens 9–18 with filaments connate into a synandrium, anthers subsessile, thecae with transverse dehiscence. Female inflorescences similar to the male. Female flowers with petals similar to those of the male flowers: petals 3; staminodes 3 or absent; carpels 3–6, subovoid; ovary pubescent; style cylindric and glabrous. Drupe ovoid or subglobular, endocarp woody. Seeds without endosperm.