Fls us. perfect, regular, in cymes; sepals us. 5, valvate; petals us. 5, sts sepaloid; stamens 10- ∞, filaments free or in fascicles, anthers 2-celled dehiscing by apical pores or slits. Pistil 1; ovary superior, 2-10-loculed; placentae axile; style with stigmas us. as many as locules. Embryo straight. Fr. drupaceous or capsular. Mostly trees or shrubs, pubscent with branched hairs, lvs alt., simple, stipulate. Over 40 genera and 400 spp., mostly tropical and subtropical. The N.Z. genus endemic.

Trees, shrubs or herbs, often with stellate hairs. Bark tough with very strong fibres. Lvs alternate, rarely opposite, often asymmetric, simple; stipules present, usually small and caducous. Infl. cymose or paniculate, terminal or axillary. Fls usually ☿, actinomorphic or nearly so. Sepals (3)-5, free or connate, valvate; epicalyx sometimes present. Petals usually (3)-5, less commonly 0, valvate or imbricate, often glandular at base. Stamens usually numerous, sometimes as few as 10, free or in bundles, inserted at base of petals or on an androphore; anthers 2-celled, dehiscing by apical pores or slits. Ovary superior, 2-10-(many)-locular; ovules 1-many on axile placentae; style simple; stigma lobed or capitate. Fr. usually a capsule or indehiscent drupe, berry or nut, sometimes a schizocarp. Seed endospermic.