Perennial rhizomatous herbs; rhizome short, creeping, covered by dense wool. Roots fibrous. Leaves linear, radical, annual; bases sheathing, densely woolly. Inflorescence of terminal, condensed spikes, each surrounded by imbricate bracts on a simple or branched stem, a scale-like bract subtending each branch. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic; bracteoles covering perianth tube. Perianth salver-shaped; tube cylindrical; limb of 6 equal, spreading segments, purple, twisted after flowering. Stamens 3 long, 3 short, at apex of perianth tube, forming a connate tube around style; anthers opening by slits, introrse, yellow. Ovary superior, 3-locular; ovules 2 per locule, one erect, one pendulous; style filiform; stigma capitate, small. Fruit a loculicidal capsule, 3-valved, enclosed by bracts. Seeds ovoid to reniform, crustaceous, black, smooth, shining; aril absent.
Home