Trees and shrubs, a few lianes. Leaves alternate, simple, leathery, generally gland dotted or with conspicuous resin ducts; stipules absent. Flowers unisexual or bisexual, small, regular, in terminal or axillary clusters. Sepals 4-6, free or fused at the base. Petals 4-6, mostly fused. Stamens same number as and usually opposite the petals and fused to the tube. Ovary superior to semi-inferior with 1, rarely 4-6, chambers containing ovules with axile or free-central placentation. Fruit a berry or drupe.

Trees or shrubs; leaves leathery and gland-dotted; axile or free-central ovule placentation.

39 genera and about 1250 mostly tropical, subtropical and warm temperate (Australia has 6 genera an 25 species).

Source: Spencer, R. (1997). Myrsinaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.