Shrubs or trees, deciduous; pubescent with tufted, stellate, stellulate, or multicellular, unbranched hairs, or echinoid lepidote-peltate scales. Stems spreading (bluntly thorn-tipped) . Leaves: alternate; petiole relatively short; nectaries absent; blade narrowly oblong to linear-oblong, margins entire. Inflorescences terminal or axillary from distal blades, racemes or solitary flowers (subtended by leaf blades). Flowers: sepals equal or 2 unequal pairs, each often subtending a nectary; stamens ca. 6; filaments inserted on discoid or conical receptacle (androgynophore); anthers ellipsoid; gynophore slender, elongating in fruit. Capsules or berries, usually dehiscent, ovoid, ± fleshy. Seeds 1(2 or 3), globose to reniform, usually not arillate. x = 8.
