Trees, shrubs, or woody vines, often with aerial roots; leaves mostly spiralled, cauline, ensiform, sheathing at base, keeled, spinulose-dentate; inflorescences unisexual, the flowers dioecious, paniculate or in compound or simple spadices enclosed by spathes; perianth rudimentary or lacking; male flowers of numerous stamens; female flowers of free or variously united carpels, often forming elongate or globose heads (cephalia); style absent or short; ovary superior; ovules 1-many, basal or parietal, anatropous; fruit drupaceous or baccate. 3 genera, Africa, Asian tropics, Pacific Islands.