Flowers: Perfect or imperfect and the plants then monoecious, actinomorphic; carpels 2, syncarpous; ovary inferior, half inferior or superior, 2-locular with axile, pendulous ovules

Inflorescences: Axillary clusters, spikes, or heads

Fruits: Woody loculicidal capsule; seed ballistically ejected in Hamamelis

Habit: Shrubs or trees, some resinous

Leaves: Alternate, simple, toothed or palmately lobed in Liquidambar, stipules present; stellate hairs often present

Examples:

• Corylopsis (winter hazel)
  
• Fothergilla gardenii (witch alder)
  
• Hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel)
  
• Hamamelis vernalis
  
• Hamamelis 'Arnold Promise'
  
• Liquidambar styraciflua (sweet gum)
  
• Parrotia persica