Fls perfect, mostly 5-merous, in cymes or umbels or solitary, regular or nearly so. Calyx (4)-5-(10)-lobed, persistent, sts enlarging at fruiting stage. Corolla us. gamopetalous, us. 5-lobed, rotate to tubular, us. plicate. Stamens inserted on corolla-tube, alt. with lobes, sts only 4 or 2 fertile; anthers 2-celled, sts connivent, dehiscing apically by pores or longitudinally. Hypog. disk us. present. Ovary superior, us. 2-loculed; placentae axile, ovules ∞; stigma 2-lobed; fr. a berry or capsule; seeds with endosperm. Herbs, shrubs, lianes or trees with alt. simple exstipulate lvs (sts ± pinnatifid). Upper lvs sts opp. or subopp. Some 85 genera and > 2200 spp., mostly of tropical and southern America, but some genera widespread.

Annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, or less commonly small trees. Lvs alternate, sometimes opposite in infl., exstipulate, simple or pinnate, commonly foetid when crushed. Infl. very variable, commonly cymose. Fls usually actinomorphic, ☿. Calyx (3)-5-(10)-toothed, shallow to deeply lobed, usually persistent. Corolla usually 5-lobed, occasionally more, sometimes subentire, rotate, salverform, funnelform, tubular, urceolate, or campanulate; lobes plicate or valvate in bud. Stamens 5-(8), epipetalous, alternating with lobes; anthers opening by slits or pores. Ovary superior, 2-(5)-celled; placentation axile; carpels obliquely positioned in the fl.; ovules numerous. Style simple; stigma entire or 2-lobed. Fr. a capsule or berry. Seeds endospermic, usually numerous, sometimes carunculate; embryo straight or coiled.