Shrubs or vines, perennial. Leaves alternate. Inflorescences axillary or terminal racemes, 5-30-flowered. Flowers: sepals 4; stamens 8-13[-25]; carpels 1; ovary 1-loculed; style absent; stigma 1, penicillate. Fruits berries, black, subglobose. Seed 1.

The fruits of Trichostigma are sometimes described as drupes.