Fls unisexual, small, in spikes or heads; per.-segs us. 4, valvate or imbricate. ♂ with stamens opp. segs, filaments us. inflexed in bud. ♀ with superior to inferior ovary; carpels 2, one often abortive, 1 -celled; ovule 1, us. pend.; style-branches 2. Fr. an achene or drupe. Monoec. or dioec. trees or shrubs with cop. latex and simple, alt., stipulate lvs. About 60 genera, mainly tropical and subtropical.

Trees, shrubs, climbers or rarely herbs, generally with milky latex. Lvs usually alternate, rarely opposite, pinnate, palmate, deeply incised or simple, stipulate. Infls axillary, racemose, paniculate, spicate, capitate or urceolate. Fls unisexual, apetalous. Perianth segments 0-8, usually 4, free or gamophyllous, imbricate or valvate, persistent. Stamens as many as perianth segments or reduced to 1, 2 or 3, erect or inflexed in bud; anthers 2-celled; rudimentary ovary present or 0. Ovary superior, inferior, or sometimes immersed in sockets in the infl.-axis, 1-(2)-locular; styles 2, or 1 with 2 arms, or 1 with 1 arm; ovule 1, anatropous or campylotropous. Frs drupaceous, discrete or ± connate into large fleshy syncarps; embryos various, curved or straight.