Perennial herbs, domed, tussocky or rhizomatous. Stems branched, sometimes elongated; stilt roots often present. Leaves crowded or secund; lamina narrowly linear, pointed, sometimes deciduous; leaf bases persistent, the upper part lamina-like, the lower sheathing stem. Inflorescence terminal, head-like, scapose, deciduous or persistent; involucre of outer subulate and inner scale-like bracts; flowers single between an outer imbricate or inflexed bract and a bracteole. Perianth tubular to top of floral bracts; lobes 6 in 2 whorls, white, rarely cream. Anthers basifixed, opening laterally. Ovary superior, trilocular; ovules many, in 2 rows; stigma undivided. Fruit a capsule. Seeds 1-4; testa crustaceous, black, ornamented.
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