Rhizomatous or stilt-rooted, tufted perennials. Roots fibrous. Leaves terete, perennial; bases sheathing with scarious margins, the outer scale-like. Inflorescence on a peduncle covered by imbricate pungent bracts, a turbinate or ovoid, umbel-like spike, shorter than leaves, 2 or 3 per peduncle but usually only 1 maturing; outer involucral bracts sheathing, pungent. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, cream. Perianth segments 6, equal, united in tube in lower third. Stamens 3; filaments short, thick; anthers loosely pressed around style, dehiscing by slits, introrse. Ovary superior, 3-locular; ovules 2 per locule, one erect, one pendulous; style slender, exceeding stamens; stigma small. Fruit a loculicidal capsule, trigonous, green. Seeds kidney-shaped, shiny black; aril prominent.
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