Cuccuini, P. (1999) Olacaceae in Flora of Somalia 2: 127-128
Plants trees, shrubs, or woody climbers, sometimes unisexual (and species dioeccious). Leaves usually alternate, without stipules, simple. Inflorescences axillary clusters of cymes or racemes or of solitary flowers. Flowers bisexual, radially symmetric; sepals 3-5(-6), small, usually partially joined and often cup-shaped, accrescent in some genera, the margins entire or lobed; petals 3-5(-6), valvate, free or sometimes partially united; stamens 4-12, opposite the petals if equal in number to them, free or adnate to the corolla at the base, sometimes sterile; anthers 2-thecous, usually longitudinally dehiscent, sometimes with apical pores; nectarydiscs present; ovaries superior, semi-inferior, or inferior, 1-5-celled, with 1 pendulous ovule per cell; styles usually short; stigmas 2-5-lobed. Fruits berries or drupes; seeds with copious endosperm.
The above description accepts a broad interpretation of Olacacaceae. It is the treatment recommended by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group in the fourth version of its classification, but the authors acknowledge it is not monophyllic. With this broad interpretation, Olacaceae includes about 25 genera and 250 species.
@Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Reproduced with permission.