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 These can be trees, shrubs or grasses.  Leaves are alternate, simple or compound and stipulated.  Inflorescence is compound or with solitary flowers.  Flowers are hermaphrodite or unisexual by abortion, actinomorphic, rarely zygomorphic, often have an entire epicalyx or formed from small distinct bracts.  Calyx (3-5 sepals), more or less fused, rarely free, having sometimes a globular zone at the base.  

Petals (5) free from themselves are often persisting.  Androecium and gynaecium can be supported on an androgynophore.  Stamens (5-40), more usually with filaments are fused in a long tube sometimes alternating with the staminodium.  Ovary consists of 3-5 (up to 10) free or fused carpels.  Style is simple, divided into branches at the top (sometimes sessile stigma) or free style.  Ovule (2) in each locule can be axial, ascending or horizontal.  Fruit is with numerous mericarp.  Seeds are with or without albumen, sometimes winged.  Embryo is upright or folded.

The genus is comprised of some 200 species with 4 that are found in Mauritius. They are of no economic importance as the wood is fibrous and hence not solid at all. 

These are trees or shrubs, with dioecious or hermaphrodite flowers, alternating leaves that are sometimes heterophyllous.  Inflorescence is axial, in a cymose arrangement or umbel cymose, associated with bracts although the bracts can be absent on umbelliforms.  3 small bracts disposed more or less unilaterally, free or fused, deciduous, although exception exist are also present.  Sepals (5) are weakly fused with each other at the base, having a glandular surface on the internal (formed from a covering of glands). Petals (5) free from each other are weakly fused at the base of the staminate tube, often being asymmetrical.  

Androecium is composed of 5 groups of stamens with anthers dehiscing in the floral bud.  Anthers alternate with (5) staminodia or sometimes antheridial staminodiums are present and these are recognised more or less by their thicker filaments.  On female flowers, the anthers have the same structure but in a reduced dimension and the stamens are empty and never dehiscent.  Pollen rarely developed in these anthers and developing pollen are attenuated and imprisoned in the anthers.  Stamens and staminodia are fused at their base in a staminate tube more or less long.  Gynaecium is composed of an ovary with 5 locules or more or less with 3 locules.  Locules are bi-ovulated, or having rarely up to 16 ovules.  

The style is more or less long with 5 stigmas.  Sometimes style is absent, thus bearing sessile styga.  Ovules are collateral or superimposed, ascending, axial. Fruit containing a late-dehiscing capsule break up after desiccation by the opening of the dorsal stitching of the locules, then by the separation of the double interlocular partitions.  Seed is almost uniform with a hard testa, impermeable and contain albumen.  The embryo is about the length of the seed with 2 folded cotyledons.