Perennial or annual herbs; hairs multicellular with terminal cell papillate; roots primary. Leaves mostly basal, on a stock, villous in axils. Scapes usually numerous each bearing a single terminal head surrounded by an involucre of green bracts. Flowers bisexual, regular, each with several membranous hyaline bracts. Sepals 5, connate, usually densely hairy. Petals 5, connate. Stamens 5, opposite sepals, epipetalous; anthers connate forming a tube, 2-locular, dehiscing through longitudinal slits. Ovary superior, 1-locular; ovule solitary, attached basally on septum or ridge; style entire with hollow indusium enclosing ±bifid tip. Fruit a nut enclosed in persistent calyx. Seed without endosperm; testa membranous; embryo straight.
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