More or less subpachycaulous small to medium-sized trees and shrubs. Leaves convolute, spiral, crowded towards apex of branches, with close, ascending lateral veins, margins serrulate, initially setulose, estipulate; petiole short or 0. Flowers single, or more or less cymose in florescences; pedicels with 2 prophylls or several bracts; flowers bisexual, cyclic; sepals 5, unequal, free, quincuncial; petals 5, contorted, free; stamens numerous; filaments slender, free, or basally connate into 5 antepetalous bundles; anthers short, basi fixed; fasciclode + or 0; ovary 3(-5)-locular, with numerous orderly arranged ovules on biseriate axile placentae; stylodia free or united into a branched or simple style; stigmas papillate. Fruits septicidal capsules with a persistent central column; seeds with scanty endosperm;embryo straight.