Evergreen trees or shrubs; usually dioecious, sometimes bisexual flowers also present. Leaves imparipinnate with a flattened rachis, and sessile leaflets, or rarely (not in Australia) simple. Inflorescence paniculate, terminal and/or axillary. Sepals and petals 4 or 5 each; male flowers with 8 or 10 stamens, alternating long and short, arising just outside the lobed nectary-disc, pistillode usually present; female flowers with 8 or 10 staminodes, ovary 1-locular, styles 3 or 4, united at base. Drupe with crusty membranous exocarp, separating from mesocarp; endocarp hard.