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Trees and shrubs, sometimes climbing or creeping, spiny or smooth are members of this family. The leaves are simple, alternate or helically arranged or are found opposite each other. They can also have margins that are either entire, crenate, dentate or with a spine at the tip. The small stipules that are present are deciduous. 

Cymose inflorescence can be simple or compound or the flowers can be fasciculate or solitary. The flowers are actinomorphic, bi- or unisexual and the plants can be either dioecious or monoecious. The number of sepals varies between 4 and 5, but a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 sepals can also be observed. Thee are usually free, imbricate and persistent. 

The anthers are generally very short while the ovary is free, bears 2 to 5 locules and the number of ovules varies from 1 to numerous in the locules. The fruit can exist in the form of a capsule or of a drupe that is indehiscent. Arils may be present as they may well be absent. 

At Mondrain, 2 species were observed and these belonged to the following genera: Maytenus and Pleurostylia. 

The genus comprises some 200 species that are distributed in tropical and temperate countries. 

Members of this genus re mostly trees or shrubs that can either be climbing or creeping ones. The small branches very often end with a short spine. The leaves are helically arranged with small deciduous stipules. 

Cymose inflorescence or axillary fasciculate flowers are also present. The flowers are usually bi- or unisexual. The number of sepals and petals vary between 4 and 6, but typically an average of 5 petals are observed. The number of stamens too is the same as that of the petals and sepals. The ovary is superior or sessile, with an average of 3 locules that contain a pair of ovules each. 

The style is simple, either short or long, while the stigma is more or less lobed. The capsule is tough, lignified or papery but relatively fleshy. The number of grains vary between 1 and 6, sometimes even reaching a maximum of 8, are shiny and reddish or orange in colour. Arils are present in a wide variety of colors, namely yellow, white and red. 

Only one species is endemic to Mauritius and is Maytenus pyria.
 

Pleurostylia
This genus consists of only 6 species with 3 being endemic to the Mascareignes. Among these 3, Pleurostylia leucocarpa is endemic to Mauritius only. 

 Members of this genus are shrubs or trees with leaves that are opposite each other, decussate and entire. Stipules are present, are small and somewhat persistent. The flowers are bisexual and pentamerous. Both petals and sepals are imbricate. The style is rather short and the stigma peltate. The fruits exist in the form of drupes with either fleshy or thin mesocarps. They are also tough and have a thin endocarp. The grains occur singly or in pairs, have no aril, while albumen seems to be abundant.