Herbs perennial. Rhizomes long. Stems erect or ascending. Leaves alternate, mostly aggregated at apex of stems. Cincinni long, with numerous flowers, forming terminal panicles; involucral bracts small. Flowers actinomorphic. Sepals free, boat-shaped. Petals free, white. Fertile stamens 3, equal, middle one inserted opposite petal; filaments glabrous, posterior; anther locules longitudinally dehiscent; staminodes 3; antherodes 2-lobed, horizontally divergent. Ovary 3-loculed; ovules 1 per locule. Capsule 3-valved, globose, trigonous. Seeds 1 per valve, oblong, reticulate or not; hilum linear.