Herbs, shrubs or rarely small trees, with alternate, opposite or verticil- late leaves, almost always entire-margined, the mostly minute bracteolate flowers in spikes or rarely in racemes.

Perianth none.

Stamens mostly 2-6, hypogynous; anthers erect, terminal, their sacs distinct or confluent, longitudinally dehiscent.

Ovary sessile or rarely stipitate, 1-celled, 1- ovuled ; style 1 ; ovule erect, orthotropous.

Fruit baccate, indehiscent.