General description:- Herbs, shrubs or trees with alternate.

Leaves:- Entire.

Flowers:- In racemes. Perianth-segments 5, free, persistent. Stamens inserted on the receptacle below and free from the ovary (hypogynous). Carpels united at least at the base (rarely free), each containing a single ovule.

PHYTOLACCA

Flowers:- Racemes usually opposite the leaves. Perianth-segments small, between sepaloid and petaloid in colour and texture. Stamens 10 or more; carpels 10 or fewer.

Fruit:- A berry or cluster of drupelets.

Key features:-
1) Herb, sometimes woody at the base.
2) Flowers hermaphrodite.
3) Stamens 8 or 10.
4) Carpels 10, united.