they are evergreen shrubs and small trees from 2–20 m tall. the leaves are alternately arranged, simple, thick, serrated, usually glossy, and 3–17 cm long. the flowers are large and conspicuous, 1–12 cm diameter, with (in natural conditions) 5–9 petals; colour varies from white to pink and red, and yellow in a few species. the fruit is a dry capsule subdivided into 1–5 compartments, each containing 1–8 seeds.