Although there are only five genera in West Africa, three of them are important ecologically. These are trees and shrubs, Ouratea being a large genus (of c. 40 species in West Africa), containing, on a pantropical basis, half the species of the family (c. 300).

Members of the family may be recognised by their alternate, simple, stipulate leaves with prominent, numerous pinnate veins, shallow conspicuous white or yellow flowers (with 10 to numerous stamens) in racemose inflorescences, and by their fruits (see below).

Fleurydora felicis is endemic to West Africa and confined, so far as is known, to Guinée, where it grows as a yellow-flowered shrub or small tree among rocks. The only West African herb of the family, Sauvagesia erecta, is, however, widespread in wet places (also in Gambia), and has solitary, axillary white-to-pink flowers.

Flowers ⊕ 5-part. K5, coloured and/or persistent (caducous in Fleurydora). C5 (sometimes joined basally, Ouratea), contorted (valvate in Sauvagesia). A5 (Fleurydora and Sauvagesia), or 10 (Ouratea), alternating with the petals, or numerous (Lophira and Ochna); the filaments persistent, anthers opening by slits (terminal pores in Lophira, some Ochna spp., Ouratea, Fleurydora). G(2) (Lophira), (3) (Sauvagesia) or (5), uncommonly to (10), deeply lobed in Ochna and Ouratea with a gynobasic style; 1-celled in Lophira (with an intrusive basal placenta with several ovules) and in Sauvagesia with intrusive parietal placentae above, axile placentae below; 5–10-celled otherwise, very deeply lobed with a single basal ovule per cell in Ochna and Ouratea (several axile ovules in Fleurydora).