Deciduous shrubs, rarely with somewhat persistent leaves. Leaves simple, alternate, serrate, sometimes entire or lobed, shortly petiolate; stipules absent. Inflorescence terminal or axillary, flowers in dense corymbs, panicles, racemes or umbels. Flowers usually bisexual. Sepals 5, petals 5, usually white, sometimes greenish, yellowish or red; stamens 10–many; carpels usually 5, free, superior, ovules 2–many per carpel. Fruit a cluster of dehiscent, bony follicles; seeds 2–4 per follicle.
About 80 species from temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere; 5 species naturalised in Australia.
