Trees shrubs or suffrutices, usually evergreen. Leaves alternate, subopposite or subwhorled; margin sometimes minutely crenate, otherwise entire. Inflorescence a simple or branched false raceme. Flowers unisexual, the male usually larger than the female. Calyx 4(-5)-lobed, not accrescent. Corolla campanulate, 4(-5)-lobed. Stamens 10-30. Disk fleshy, fimbriate, sometimes undulate. Styles 2-3. Fruit nearly always a 1-seeded berry. Seed ± spherical, with 3 radiating lines from the apex. Worldwide: c.12 species in Africa, Arabia, Socotra and the Comoro Is. Zambia: 4 taxa. Insects associated with this genus:
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| Species | FZ divisions | Content |
| crispa (Thunb.) Sond. ex Gürke subsp. crispa | Description, Image | |
| divinorum Hiern | Description, Image | |
| natalensis A. DC. subsp. acutifolia F. White | N,W,C,E,S | Description, Image |
| schimperi (A. DC.) Dandy | N,W,C,E,S | Description, Image |