Perennial herbs with erect, branched or simple stems arising from wiry rhizomes. Roots fibrous. Leaves distichous, resupinate, elliptic to lanceolate, reduced to cataphylls on lower stem, petiolate; veins many, convergent; midrib prominent. Flowers bisexual, borne singly or in a few-flowered cyme in leaf axils, pendulous. Perianth actinomorphic. Sepals and petals equal or almost so, free, entire, articulated at base, 1-nerved, white to pale mauve or pink. Stamens 6, free; filaments filiform; anthers basifixed, dehiscing by slits, introrse. Ovary superior, 3-or 4-locular or incompletely 1-locular; ovules in 2 rows per locule; placentation axile to incompletely parietal; styles 3 or 4; stigmas 3 or 4. Fruit a spongy berry, blue-purple or orange-yellow. Seeds few to many, yellow-brown.
Home