They have opposite or spiral leaves, and at most small stipules.

The small flowers, borne in terminal inflorescences, have free (i.e. unjoined) sepals and petals.

The fruit, a berry, is fleshy and contains two seeds.

[2] In the 2009 APG III system, the genus is placed in the family Paracryphiaceae, along with Paracryphia and Quintinia.

[3] The earlier APG II system placed it alone in family Sphenostemonaceae.