Deciduous and evergreen small trees and shrubs. Leaves simple and toothed, spirally arranged; stipules small, soon shed. Flowers bisexual, regular, shortly stalked and in pendulous axillary clusters, 4-parted with free petals. Stamens 8, free; anthers opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary superior, placentation axile. Fruit a 4-chambered berry with a leathery coat.

Flowers waxy in dense catkin-like hanging spikes looking like ears of wheat; petals 4.

1 genus of 5-6 species from E Asia, Himalaya to Japan.

Li (1943).

Source: Spencer, R. (1997). Stachyuraceae. 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.