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Perennial, acaulous or short-stemmed herbs, sometimes small, branched subshrubs. Lvs alternate, simple, entire, free, in loose or dense rosettes. Infl. axillary, a simple or branched cyme, often elongated and racemose and then fls secund, sometimes cymes paniculate and thyrsoid. Fls 5-merous, ± erect to horizontal, often pendent in bud. Sepals free or connate towards base, subequal to very unequal. Petals united at base, forming a tube except at spreading tips, thick and fleshy, usually orange to red, sometimes pale yellow to white; tube often angled towards base. Stamens 10, included, in 2 unequal or somewhat unequal whorls; inner whorl epipetalous. Carpels 5, united at base. Scales free, lunate or reniform, often truncate. Seeds numerous.
Caulescent or scarcely stemmed perennial herbs, the leaves frequently borne in a basal rosette, fleshy and succulent. Leaves spirally arranged, sessile, entire, usually glabrous and somewhat glaucous. Inflorescence usually a lax spike or raceme, the flowers arising singly or in pairs in the axils of the reduced stem-leaves. Flowers fleshy, variously colored; sepals 5, more or less free, equal or unequal, frequently erect, mostly greenish; petals 5, usually exceeding the sepals, free or somewhat united at the base, frequently erect and angled; stamens 10, the outer cycle mostly inserted at the base of the petals; carpels 5, united at the extreme base, tapered into slender styles. Fruit follicular.
