Trees, shrubs or shrublets. Leaves opposite, less frequently subopposite or alternate, petiolate, entire, often furnished with opaque glandular dots and stellate indumentum. Inflorescence a terminal panicle, usually cymose. Flowers bisexual. Sepals 5, with longitudinal linear glands. Petals 5, villous within, furnished with longitudinal glandular lines and swollen nectariferous tissue at the base. Androecium of 5 fascicles of stamens, with few to many stamens in each fascicle and filaments united for most of their length; fasciclodes 5, fleshy, scale-like, alternating with the fascicles. Ovary 5-locular, with 1 (2)-ovulate loculi and ascending ovules; styles 5, free. Fruit a berry. Seeds large, with a fleshy glandular-punctate testa.