Trees or shrubs, usually evergreen, usually alternate, non-ericoid, entire or serrate leaves, convolute in bud. Leaf epidermal cells not lignified. Indumentum of stalked glandular hairs and sometimes elongate, non-glandular hairs. Inflorescences terminal, racemose or paniculate; bracts present, bracteoles paired, ± basal; calyx not articulated with pedicel. Flowers (4-)5-merous, actinomorphic. Calyx lobes small, persistent; corolla sympetalous, urceolate, with long unicellular hairs on the inside, the lobes small; stamens (8-)10, included, the filaments ± strongly dilated basally, ± straight, unicellular-pubescent or smooth; anthers tetrasporangiate, inverting only just before anthesis, slightly roughened, with a pair of dorso-apical spurs, lacking a fibrous endothecium, lacking disintegration tissue, dehiscing by terminal pores or slit-like pores. Pollen in tetrads, without viscin threads. Ovary 4—10-locular, with axile placentation and only 1-few ovules per locule, superior, sometimes with fleshy papillae; style continuous with the ovary; stigma truncate. Fruit ± fleshy with bony or fibrous endocarp, i.e., a drupe or drupe-like berry; seeds with testa cells ± elongated; embryo with 2 cotyledons.