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. Stipules are often fused at the node and leaf like.