Perennials or small shrubs with opposite or more rarely alternate leaves and branches; indumentum of jointed, almost smooth hairs. Leaves entire. Inflorescence a narrow bracteate thyrse with compact sessile partial inflorescences; partial inflorescences basically of ultimate bracteolate triads of 1 fertile and 2 bibracteolate sterile flowers; fertile flowers 3–6 in each partial inflorescence, commonly with 2 triads set on each side of an ebracteolate fertile flower. Fertile flowers hermaphrodite with 5 perianth-segments which are all similar in form. Stamens 5; filaments filiform throughout or expanded towards the base, free or very shortly connate at the base; pseudostaminodes absent; anthers bilocular. Ovary with a single pendulous ovule, glabrous, obpyriform, firm and rounded above, delicate below; style filiform, stigma capitate. Sterile flowers of few narrow bracteoliform processes and numerous smooth or pilose bristles in several branched clusters which lengthen as the fertile flowers mature. Fruit an indehiscent capsule rupturing in the lower delicate area, the entire partial inflorescence probably falling together in fruit. Endosperm copious.
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