Herbaceous annuals, the stems and foliage rather inconspicuously hispidulous to essentially glabrous, without stinging hairs. Leaves opposite, distinctly petiolate, serrate. Inflorescence terminal, diffusely cymose, bearing rather numerous small 4-merous flowers. Hypanthium subglobular, the calyx lobes 4, broadly trigonal; petals 4, free; stamens in antepetalous groups of 4-5, with slender minutely papillate filaments; staminodia in antesepalous groups of 4-5, with slender pilosu-lose filaments barely united at the base and incised flabelliform sterile anthers; ovary 4-carpellary, 1-celled, with 1-2 ovules upon the 4 parietal placentas; style filiform, the stigma very obscurely divided. Fruit a small septicidally 4-valved capsule.