Shrubs or small trees. Lvs alternate, dotted with glands. Infl. a dense regular elongated spike of contiguous fls, the axis growing through it after flowering. Hypanthium continued above ovary, ovoid or campanulate; calyx of 5 distinct sepals, membranous, deciduous. Petals 5, ± orbicular, free, > sepals, deciduous. Stamens numerous, much > petals, usually free, very rarely united at base, commonly in two whorls, strongly incurved in bud; anthers versatile. Ovary 3-4-celled, each with many ovules; style long and coloured. Capsule woody, loculicidal, included in receptacle tube, often persistent for several years. Seeds numerous.