Trees, shrubs, or herbs; bark fibrous and tough; leaves alternate or opposite, simple, entire; flowers bisexual or unisexual; axillary or terminal, in various types of inflorescences; perianth 4-5-lobed, sepaloid or petaloid, tubular, 1 series, lobed imbricate, often with 1-2 scales at base; stamens 10, 8, 5, 4, or 2; anthers 2-celled; hypogynous disc of scales or annular; ovary superior, 1-2-celled; style sometimes excentric; ovules 1 per cell, pendulous, anatropous; fruit usually indehiscent drupaceous. About 45 genera, both temperate or tropical. One genus in Guam.