Herbs, unarmed, often reduced and/or monocaulous, often rhizomatous or tuberous, usually notably fleshy; stems flattened to subterete. Raphides present. Leaves opposite, apparently verticillate due to closely set stem nodes and/or leaflike stipules, or slightly to markedly anisophyllous and apparently alternate, decussate or distichous, without domatia; stipules persistent or deciduous, interpetiolar, entire or bilobed, sometimes leaflike and thus apparently absent. Inflorescences terminal or sometimes pseudoaxillary, fasciculate, cymose-corymbiform, or umbelliform, several flowered, few flowered, or reduced to 1 flower, sessile to pedunculate, bracteate with bracts sometimes fused into an involucre or sometimes with bracts very reduced. Flowers pedicellate or sessile, bisexual or monomorphic, sometimes somewhat zygomorphic, usually nodding. Calyx limb deeply 4-or 5-lobed. Corolla white, broadly rotate (i.e., "Solanum-like") to campanulate (i.e., bell-shaped), glabrous inside; lobes 4 or 5, valvate in bud. Stamens 4 or 5, inserted near base of corolla tube, partially to fully exserted; filaments reduced or developed and free, coherent, or fused in middle portions into a tube; anthers free or usually coherent into a tube, with longitudinal slits or terminal pores, sometimes with connective prolonged at apex. Ovary 2-celled, ovules numerous in each cell on axile placentas attached near top of septum; stigma capitate or 2-lobed, included or exserted. Fruiting pedicels usually becoming thickened and erect. Fruit capsular, subglobose to obovoid, dehiscent through apical operculum formed from disk portion, leathery or membranous, often becoming black, with calyx limb persistent, with endocarp and septum becoming notably fibrous; seeds numerous, small, flattened to angled, with testa reticulate; endosperm fleshy.
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