Corolla 5-lobed, the lobes relatively short (elsewhere occasionally longer than tube), generally conspicuously banded in different colours, developing vents below tip (bud apex swollen or not) and opening with a short V-split; basal swelling present or absent; lobes linear-lanceolate to linear-elliptic above claw, generally remaining erect (not in A. deltae), sometimes shiny and hardened inside.
Stamen filaments inserted near top of corolla tube, short, inflexed or rarely inrolled, sometimes corrugated, sometimes hardened at tip, with or without a ledge or tooth in front of the anther; anthers 4-thecous, linear, with connective not or only slightly produced at apex.
Flowers borne in sessile to pedunculate umbels, clustered or rarely singly in axils, sometimes terminal on short shoots; bract shallowly to distinctly cupular, with a small to leafy limb.
Shrubs, mostly extending 0.5–2 m from a single haustorial connection; twigs terete to slightly compressed or angular; hairs, if present, simple or irregularly branched.
Leaves alternate to opposite, shortly petiolate; lateral nerves spreading-ascending to strongly ascending from the base.
Style isodiametric or swollen opposite filaments and constricted above (skittle-shaped); stigma small, capitate.
Berry ellipsoid to obovoid, smooth to warty, usually ripening red.
Calyx saucer-shaped to tubular, entire to slightly toothed.