Trees or shrubs. Lvs simple, alternate, sometimes dotted or lined with glands; stipules caducous or persistent. Fls usually in axillary or terminal panicles or racemes, sometimes solitary, actinomorphic, ☿ or unisexual. Sepals 2-15, usually imbricate. Petals usually 2-15, sometimes 0, free, imbricate, often inserted on margin of hypogynous or perigynous disc. Stamens usually numerous, free or in bundles opposite petals; anthers 2-locular; staminodes sometimes present. Ovary nearly always superior, usually 1-locular, but the 1 or more parietal placentae occasionally projecting inwards to meet in middle. Ovules few to many; styles as many as placentae. Fr. usually a berry or drupe, occasionally a capsule. Seed endospermic.

Dioecious trees or shrubs with soft, light wood. Lvs alternate, or occasionally opposite on some shoots, simple, deciduous, stipulate. Fls numerous, each in the axil of a bract (scale), usually appearing before or with the lvs, densely arranged in erect or pendulous catkins. Bracts membranous, caducous or persistent. Perianth represented by a small cupular disc or 1-2 small nectaries. ♂ fls: stamens 2-numerous; filaments slender, free or united; anthers 2-locular. ♀ fls: ovary 2-carpellate, 1-locular; placentas 2-4, parietal or basal; ovules (4)-merous; styles 1-2; stigmas 2, often 2-fid. Fr. a 2-4-valved capsule. Seeds numerous, small, surrounded and enveloped by fine silky hairs, anatropous, non-endospermic; embryo straight.