One of the largest families, cosmopolitan, and the next largest West African family, in terms of species, after the grasses. Shrubs and under-storey trees in forest are particularly important.

Members of the family may be recognised by their opposite or whorled, simple, entire leaves accompanied by interpetiolar stipules or ridges. Ptyxis conduplicate as a rule, revolute in Rothmannia sp. The inflorescence is a cyme, sometimes head like. Flowers are ⊕, mostly four- to five-part, always gamopetalous, with an equal number of epipetalous stamens alternating with the corolla lobes, and with a two-celled inferior ovary.

Rather few species have been introduced. Cinchona spp., yielding quinine, and the garden ornamental Gardenia jasminoides, the most usually cultivated Gardenia sp. of temperate climates (originally from China and Japan), are sometimes seen. The red and white Ixoras, I. coccinea and . parviflora, respectively, and, in Sierra Leone and Ghana, Pentas lanceolata (from East Africa), are more common. Many indigenous West African species deserve a place in the garden.

The tribe Naucleae (Adina, Mitragyna, Nauclea and Uncaria) showing similarities to the Combretaceae, is sometimes separated as a family, the Naucleaceae. Verdcourt (1958) proposed an entirely different intrafamilial classification to the one employed in the Flora of West tropical Africa.

Very few West African plants have obviously unique features. One is the genus Uncaria, climbers in forest with sensitive hooks formed from inflorescence branches. Rutidea membranacea, another forest climber, has recurved, but not hooked, axillary spines.