Herbs or shrubs, occasionally trees, glabrous except for infl. Lvs thin and herbaceous. Fls ☿ or unisexual, small, in terminal or subterminal, often spiciform and erect racemes. Perianth 5-merous, lobed, or with tepals almost free, coloured, often becoming dark red, ultimately reflexed. Stamens (5)-7-22-(33), 1-2-seriate, ± irregularly arranged on disc; anthers dorsifixed. Carpels 5-10-(16), whorled, connate laterally; whole ovary depressed, globose or subglobose. Fr. a berry, or berry-like drupe, longitudinally 5-10-grooved. Seed laterally compressed with asymmetric base.