Herbs annual with fibrous rootlets or perennial with short rhizomes. Stems branched from base (simple in C. disepalum). Inflorescences racemelike, sometimes reduced to a solitary terminal flower. Flowers 4 or 5merous. Calyx lobed nearly to base, without an intracalycular membrane. Corolla tubular, tubular-funnelform, or salverform; lobes each with 1 or 2 basal scales; scales fringed with nonvascularized white fimbriae; plicae absent. Nectaries at base of corolla tube. Stamens inserted on corolla tube; filaments white. Capsules 2valved, many seeded. Seed coat smooth.