Habit and leaf form. Shrubs, or herbs. Herbs with a basal aggregation of leaves, or with neither basal nor terminal aggregations of leaves. Self supporting (or stemless), or climbing. Leaves alternate; non-sheathing; simple. Lamina dissected (lobed), or entire; sometimes acicular. Leaves exstipulate. Lamina margins crenate, or serrate.
Stem anatomy. Cork cambium present; initially superficial. Vessel end-walls mostly simple.
Reproductive type, pollination. Monoecious. Gynoecium of male flowers absent.
Inflorescence, floral, fruit and seed morphology. Flowers solitary, or aggregated in `inflorescences' (few flowered); in fascicles and in racemes. The terminal inflorescence unit (when determinable) racemose. Inflorescences few flowered, in fascicles or racemes. Flowers small to medium-sized; regular; 3-5 merous.
Perianth with distinct calyx and corolla; 6-10; 2 whorled. Calyx 3-5; 1 whorled; gamosepalous (at the base); open in bud. Corolla 3-5; 1 whorled; gamopetalous. Degree of gamopetaly 0.75 (with a campanulate tube). Corolla valvate; regular.
Androecium in male flowers, 6-10. Androecial members adnate; markedly unequal (the staminodes shorter); free of one another; 2 - whorled. Androecium of male flowers including staminodes. Staminodes 3-5 (short, fleshy). Stamens 3-5; oppositisepalous (the fertile members alternating with the petals). Anthers basifixed (the connective broadly expanded); non-versatile; dehiscing via longitudinal slits; introrse. Pollen grains aperturate; 3 - aperturate; colporate.
Gynoecium in female flowers 3-5; syncarpous; synovarious to synstylovarious; superior. Ovary 1 locular; sessile. Styles attenuate from the ovary; apical; shorter than the mature ovary. Stigmas 3-5. Placentation parietal (with 3-5 placentas). Ovules in the single cavity 3-20; arillate.
Fruit non-fleshy; dehiscent. Dispersal unit the seed. Seeds endospermic. Embryo well differentiated. Cotyledons 2. Embryo straight; small.
Physiology, biochemistry. Aluminium accumulation not found.
Geography, cytology. Paleotropical and Cape. South Africa.
Taxonomy. Subclass Dicotyledonae; Crassinucelli. Dahlgren's Superorder Violiflorae; Violales. Cronquist's Subclass Dilleniidae; Violales. Takhtajan's Subclass Dilleniidae; Dillenianae; Violales. Species 3. Genera 3; Acharia, Ceratiosicyos, Guthriea.