Woody vines or scrambling shrubs, glabrous. Stems with prominent lenticels. Leaves opposite, simple, serrate or entire, pinnately veined; stipules minute, deciduous. Inflorescence an axillary cyme, sometimes loose panicles, or flowers solitary; flowers bisexual, actinomorphic; sepals 4, ± free; petals when present 4 and minute or absent; stamens 8, in two worls, anthers dehiscing via longitudinal slits; ovary semi-inferior, 4-locular, styles 4 stamens and perianth attached in lower half of ovary; ovules 1 per locule. Fruit hard and nut-like, surrounded by a persistent calyx, 1 seeded.

Aphanopetalaceae are woody vines or scrambling shrubs with prominently lenticellate stems, opposite and more or less serrate leaves with minute "stipules", and axillary inflorescences. The flowers are more or less apetalous but have four large, white sepals that enlarge somewhat in fruit.

1 genus, and 2 species, endemic to Australia.

Previously included in Cunoniaceae. This treatment follows Stevens, P.F. (2018, Angiosperm Phylogeny Website).

Created by: Val Stajsic

Updated by: Val Stajsic, March 2018