Ecologically important species in West Africa are mainly forest trees, especially in the drier parts of lowland forest. Few species appear north of the northern boundary of the forest-savanna mosaic. Nearly all the genera are Old World only in distribution.

Members of the family may be recognised by their alternate, digitately compound/lobed/nerved leaves with deciduous stipules and stellate hairs, and small flowers arranged either in clusters, sometimes on old wood, or else in lax, panicle-like cymes. Flowers are complex and five-part, about two-thirds of the genera having flowers with petals, the remaining one-third having at least some ♂ and ♀ flowers lacking petals. Fruits are also distinctive (see below).

Kleinhovia hospita, a shade tree introduced from India, is occasionally seen.

Byttneria is a tropical genus of lianes and scrambling shrubs, the only genus of this habit in the family in West Africa. There are three species in forest, the most common and widespread being B. catalpifolia subsp. africana in secondary forest. It has suborbicular leaf blades up to 18 cm Ø on petioles the same length. There are small, scented, white flowers in leaf-opposed cymes, the petals tailed, and the fruits are distinctively prickly capsules. The young shoots of the other species are also prickly.

Flowers ⊕ 5-part, either ♂ and ♀ and apetalous with a petaloid calyx, K(5) (Octolobus K(8)), or with petals, the calyx inconspicuous (spathe-like in Mansonia); polygamy can occur in both groups.