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These are trees, which are usually of great height containing white latex (in the bark, stem and leaves).  Leaves are simple, alternate, entire and rarely stipulated.  Flowers are actinomorphic, hermaphrodite or female by abortion of stamens (Sideroxylon), are found grouped or alone at the base of leaves stalk or on older leafless branches.  Calyx is composed of 4-5 overlapping free sepals arranged in one whorl or 4-8 sepals arranged in 2 alternate whorls.  Gamopetalous corolla that is more or less lobed sometimes till the base is also present. The number of lobes is equal to the number of sepals present or sometimes 2-3 times more numerous containing sometimes 2 dorsal appendices. 

Stamens are found fused with the corolla through their filaments with equal number to the corolla or sometimes 2-3 times more numerous and placed opposite to the corolla.  Staminodia alternating with the corolla are usually present.  Syncarpous ovaries with 4-8 uniloculated cavities and simple styles are present as well.  Ovules are more or less erect.  Placentation is axile. The fruit is more a berry with 1-7 seeds.  Seeds are smooth, shiny, and sometimes hard with a thick testa.  The embryo is straight.  Cotyledons are either in a symmetrical plan or perpendicular with respect to the seed.  Albumen is shiny.

They are trees or shrubs with evergreen leaves.  Flowers are hermaphrodites or female by abortion of stamens, found grouped or alone at the base of leaves or on the leafless parts of the branches.  The floral meristems have the ability to function during several years and form small cushion-like elevations.  Sepals (4-5) are overlapping and sometimes associated with hairs.  Corolla is with a short tube and 5-8 rounded lobes at the top.  5-7 staminodia sometimes form an incomplete whorl.  Stamens are found opposite from petals and may range from 5-8.  Anthers sometimes dehisce in the bud and results in perpendicular situation with respect to the filament. 

Ovaries are more or less cone shaped, with style and stigma that are not well differentiated. The fruit is a fleshy berry with 1 seed (except in S.galeatum where the seed may be absent).  The seed’s testa is hard and thick with an unimportant basal hilum or sometimes greatly enlarged and occupying half of the seed.  The embryo is transversal.
 

Labourdonnaisia

These are trees with lateral sympodium branching.  Leaves are grouped at the extremities of the braches, and have numerous secondary and parallel venation.  Flowers are hermaphrodite, grouped in 3 or solitary, found at the base of leaves or sometimes 1-2 cm lower in the leafy parts.  Calyx is composed of 3 external sepals, which may be overlapping and 3 internal sepals that are more overlapping near their top. 

Corolla is white, with 10-18 exposing lobes and 0-12 supplementary reduced lobes alternating with the principal ones; the tube is short.  Stamens are found opposite to the lobes of the corolla and are in same quantity as them.  Ovary is pubescent, with a flattened cone shaped structure, 5-9 uniovulated locules. 
 

Mimusops

These are trees with lateral sympodium branching.  Leaves are grouped at the extremities of branching, with leaf blades unfolding themselves rapidly as soon as the growth of the foliage buds starts.  Flowers are hermaphrodite, solitary or grouped in 3 at the base of the leaves but never found on old wood.  Sepals form valvate structures and are arranged in two groups of 4. 

Corolla with a short tube, 8 lobes, each more or less folded in a gutter-like fashion around the stamens and associated with 2 dorsal and simple appendices.  The lobes of the appendices are brownish, the base of the corolla being fleshy and green.  Stamens (8) are found opposite to the corolla’s lobes, alternating with 8 staminodia on the external.  Ovary is cone-shape, with a thick style and an undifferentiated stigma.  Locules (8) are uni-ovulated with the partitions that do not join at the centre.  The fruit is a berry with 1 or more seed.  Seeds consist of oily albumen and an upright embryo.  The testa is smooth or marked with longitudinal crest.