Rhizomatous, tufted or stilt-rooted perennials. Leaves cauline, terete to triquetrous; bases sheathing, the margins scarious to finely divided. Inflorescence a terminal head-like umbel, pedunculate to sessile, with involucre of imbricate scarious bracts; outer bracts entire, empty, usually brown; floral bracts with jagged to finely divided margins, usually white. Flowers shortly pedicellate, white, reddish, pink or green. Sepals 3, free. Petals 3, shortly united or free. Stamens 6, slightly shorter than petals, the 3 inner adnate to petals; filaments terete; anthers dorsifixed, dehiscing by slits, introrse. Ovary 3-locular; ovules 1-8 per locule; style filiform; stigma dilated, entire. Fruit a capsule; perianth persistent, not twisted. Seeds 3-12, triangular, mamillate, dull black; strophiole absent.
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