Habit and leaf form. Trees, or shrubs; usually resinous (although it is unclear from the references seen whether the sometimes milky juice recorded in this and related families is resinous or laticiferous). Self supporting, or climbing. Leaves evergreen, or deciduous; nearly always alternate (opposite in Bouea); when alternate, spiral; ‘herbaceous’; aromatic (resinous), or without marked odour (?); simple, or compound; when compound, ternate, or pinnate. Lamina pinnately veined. Leaves exstipulate. Lamina margins entire. Domatia occurring in the family (recorded in 8 genera); manifested as pits, or pockets, or hair tufts.