Small or medium, deciduous, monoecious tree; leaves membranous, very variable, ovate to lanceolate, acute or acuminate, dentate or lobed, base cordate; petiole long, fruiting spikes short, peduncled, drooping, axillary catkins red or white; male spikes elongated; sepals-4, imbricate; stamens-4, inflexed in bud, pistallode turbinate; female spikes, short, ovoid; sepals-4, decussate, accrescent, succulent; ovary included, straight, 1-celled, ovule solitary, pendulous, style central, bifid; achenes enclosed in succulent perianth, white or dark purple turning black when ripe, sweet; seeds subglobose, albumen copious, fleshy.