Small, fleshy, saprophytic herbs. Underground stem with clusters of tuberous bulbils producing a filamentous root from each bulbil. Stem usually simple. Leaves sparse, small, scale-like. Flowers relatively large. Perianth geniculate or zygomorphic; tube narrowly urceolate, with internal flange ± at middle, distinctly lobed or not; tepals 6, subequal, narrowly triangular, acuminate, free, hastate, the basal extensions free from the upper mouth of the perianth-tube or not; perianth and ovary-wall deciduous after flowering. Stamens 6; filaments basally fused to lower part of perianth-tube below flange, free upper part incurved, with anthers hanging and attached to the stigma by the anther-connective; thecae dehiscing longitudinally. Ovary obovoid, 1-locular, with 3 parietal placentas fused into a column at the base, free above; ovules ellipsoid; funicles filiform, equal to or slightly longer than the ovules; style short and thick; stigma lobed, funnel-shaped. Seeds ellipsoid with loose reticulate testa.
Home