Monoecious, rarely dioecious, trees, shrubs or creepers, not armed, sometimes epiphytic. Lvs usually alternate, rarely opposite, entire or lobed; venation pinnate or palmate. Stipules caducous, leaving an amplexicaul scar. Infl. fleshy, globose to obovoid or turbinate, with an ostiole at the apex and enclosing usually very numerous, small ♂ and ♀ fls; sterile gall fls used as oviposition sites also often present. ♀ fls stalked or sessile. Calyx of ♂ fls 2-6-lobed or partite, rarely reduced to 1 scale; stamens 1-2-(6), erect in bud. Calyx of ♀ fls often with fewer, narrower divisions than in ♂, or minute or 0; ovules pendulous. Achenes enclosed in the enlarged receptacle; endosperm often scanty.