Worldwide with a majority in the tropical in subtropical regions and woody. Those in temperate regions are herbaceous. Cutivated as ornamentals and for a red dye.
Inflorescences are various.
Flower often shows heterostyly. Fruit a berry, capsule, drupe or schizocarp. Seeds sinlge or many and with or without endosperm. Placentation is axile or parietal. Habit is as herbs, shrubs, trees, lianas or epiphytes.