Trees and shrubs, often stellate-hairy. Stipules mostly in pairs. Leaves alternate or opposite, simple. Inflorescences racemose, often dense. Flowers bisexual or unisexual, actinomorphic or rarely zygomorphic. Calyx with 4-5 lobes. Petals 4-5 or more, sometimes 0 in female flowers. Stamens as many as and alternating with the petals. Ovary inferior to almost superior, with 2 carpels. Fruit a woody capsule. Worldwide: 30 genera and 95 species, chiefly subtropical and especially E Asia. Zimbabwe: 0 cultivated genera and 0 cultivated taxa. |
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