The Anacardiaceae are characterized by:

• Habit:  trees or shrubs
• Leaves:  alternate (rarely opposite); simple or pinnately or trifoliolately compound; no stipules; often resinous
• Plants:  monoecious, dioecious, polygamous, or synoecious
• Inflorescence:  paniculiform
• Flowers:  perfect or imperfect, the imperfect flowers often with either staminodes or abortive ovaries persistent; actinomorphic; conspicuous intrastaminal ring-like or lobed nectary
• Perianth:  5 (rarely 3-7) sepals; basally connate; 5 (3-7) petals, distinct; hypanthium sometimes present
• Stamens:  5-10 (1, many), usually 10 in two whorls; distinct
• Ovary:  3 (2-12) carpels, but usually 1-loculed and functionally 1-carpellate, connate; superior; placentation axile but appearing basal or marginal; styles 3 (1 or 4-5), distinct
• Fruit:  drupe or berry