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Glabrous taprooted rhizomatous or cormose annual or perennial herbs, often fleshy. Rosette solitary; rosette lvs late-deciduous. Stems not branched, all reproductive, erect. Stem lvs 2, opposite, free or connate. Infl. terminal, usually a raceme, bracteate at least below. Sepals persistent. Petals 5, shortly united at base. Stamens 3 or 5. Ovary superior, of 3 fused carpels; style branches 3. Ovules 3 or 6. Capsule 1-locular, dehiscing by 3 valves. Seeds 1-3-(6).
Fls solitary to cymosely arrayed; stamens 5; style-branches 3; capsules 3-valved, 3-6-seeded, dehiscing explosively. Petals white to rose, > sepals. Seeds suborbicular in outline, ± flattened, dark brown to black, smooth, shiny. Annual to perennial glab. herbs with opp. or alt., sts fascicled, exstipulate lvs. Stems us. somewhat stout, bearing starch-rich cormose swellings. About 25 spp., mainly of Australia, Asia, N. America.
