Fls perfect, regular, 5-merous, us. in cymes; sepals imbricate, petals contorted; stamens alt. with petals, staminodes 5 or 0, filaments connate at base. Ovary superior, 3-5-celled; ovules 2 per cell, often separated by a false septum. Fr. a capsule; seeds with straight embryo. Herbs or shrubs with simple, us. alt. lvs. About 14 genera of tropical to temperate regions.

Herbs, shrubs or trees. Lvs alternate or opposite, simple; stipules present, 0, or glandular. Fls ☿, sometimes heterostylous, actinomorphic, usually solitary or arranged in dichasia or corymbs. Calyx 4-5-merous; segments free or partly united, imbricate. Petals 4-5, usually free. Stamens as many as or twice as many as petals, sometimes alternating with small staminodes; filaments connate at base; anthers 2-locular. Ovary superior, 3-5-locular, each loculus subdivided again; styles 2-5, filiform, free or partly united; ovules 2 per loculus, pendulous. Fr. usually a septicidal capsule, rarely a drupe. Seeds compressed, endosperm 0 to copious.