Perennial herbs or small shrubs. Leaves alternate, simple. Flowers in 3-bracteate 1–2-flowered spikelets grouped into compact terminal and axillary heads; central (outer) bract largest. Calyx tubular, 5-ribbed, somewhat scarious. Corolla tubular, with patent limb. Stamens free. Style 1, with 5 stigma-lobes. Fruit a capsule, membranous, 1-seeded, enclosed in the persistent calyx, dehiscent by splitting into 5 valves at base. Seed dark brown, narrowly ovoid, tapering markedly towards tip, slightly flattened, surface covered with minute stellate protuberances.