Description from Flora of China Trees or shrubs, evergreen or
deciduous. Leaves opposite, exstipulate, odd-pinnately compound
or simple; petiole constricted at tip; leaflet blades leathery,
sometimes with stipels. Inflorescence a panicle, terminal or
axillary. Flowers small, white, actinomorphic, bisexual, rarely
unisexual. Sepals 5, imbricate, persistent. Petals 5, rounded,
sessile, imbricate. Stamens 5, arranged at margin of disk;
filaments flat. Floral disk conspicuous, margin undulate. Ovary
sessile, 3-locular; styles 3, separate or united; stigmas
capitate; ovules anatropous, numerous, arranged in 2 rows. Berry
subglobose, indehiscent. Seed coat hard membranous or osseous.
Between 30 and 40 species: Asia, Central, North, and South
America; 13 species (five endemic) in China.