There are often prickly or stellate hairs on the vegetative parts. Flowers contain a nectiferous disk. Plant parts in the Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary. Flowers small and in umbels or rarely in heads, racemes or spikes. Fruit as a berry or drupe.
Seeds have endosperm present.
Placentation is axile and apical. Habit is as herbs, shrubs, trees or lianas. Leaves are also usually large, with the base of the petiole often sheathed and with small stipules present.