Trees, shrubs, or herbs; leaves alternate or rarely opposite, simple; stipules none; flowers often in helicoid cymes (one-sided, curved cincinni), or otherwise, sometimes solitary; flowers mostly regular and perfect; calyx 4-8-lobed; corolla 4-8, usually 5-lobed, tubular, sometimes with internal scales; stamens alternate with corolla-lobes and the same number; ovary superior, 2-4-celled (false partitions), often 4-lobed; ovules paired; style terminal or gynobasic; fruit a drupe, or 4 one- seeded, or 2 two-seeded nutlets. About 90 genera and 1600 species, cosmopolitan. Four genera in Guam, all indigenous, some with introduced species as well.