Catopsis Griseb.

Acaulescent herbs. Leaves densely rosulate, minutely appressed-lepidote, often cretaceous-coated, green; sheaths large but indistinct. Inflorescence usually bipinnate, rarely simple, exceeding the leaves, its branches polystichously flowered. Flowers small or minute, sessile, perfect or dimorphic and functionally dioecious at least as to the staminate plants. Sepals free, usually rounded and strongly asymmetric with the right side produced; petals free, naked, mostly with very short blades; stamens included, anthers ovate or elliptic; ovary superior, broadly ovoid or ellipsoid, style short or none; ovules few to several, apically long-connate, a small basal coma of agglutinated hairs appearing as a spur on the funicle. Capsule ovoid, septicidal; seeds with coma apical and folded over.