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Bracts very well developed, chartaceous, in ± 2 series, forming a ± connate, conspicuous involucre round the flowers, and probably acting as an insect attractant, comparable to the ray florets of the Compositae.
Erect perennial or biennial herbs with wiry stems and simple coriaceous leaves; leaf margins dentate, with the apices of the teeth frequently produced to form long stiff ciliary appendages.
Stylopodium generally not well developed, depressed and with a thickened margin; styles sometimes with a thickened apical stigmatic region.
Inflorescence comprising a relatively small number of capitulate umbels, each composed of ± sessile hermaphrodite flowers.
Fruit ovoid to subglobose; carpophore not strongly developed, undivided. Mericarps usually covered with scaly tubercles.
Calyx teeth conspicuous; petals erect, often with a sharply inflexed apex.
Vittae 5, with 1 in each interval and 2 in the commissural face.
Seed similar in section to the mericarp as a whole.
