Herbs, perennial, rhizomatous. Raphides present. Stems rough. Leaves and leaflike stipules of middle stem region in whorls of 4, without domatia, sessile or subsessile. Inflorescences terminal, thyrsoid, corymbose, cymes pedunculate, several to many flowered, bracteate but bracteoles strongly reduced. Flowers sessile to pedicellate, remarkably small, bisexual, monomorphic. Calyx limb obsolete. Corolla white, funnel-shaped, glabrous; lobes 4, valvate in bud. Stamens 4, inserted on upper part of corolla tube, exserted; filaments short; anthers dorsifixed. Ovary (hypanthium) with 2 cells, each with 1 erect ovule inserted at base of placenta; stigma 2-lobed, exserted. Fruit indehiscent or tardily schizocarpous, dry, with pericarp leathery and inflated (i.e., bladderlike) and usually including both seeds at dispersal; seeds small, ellipsoid-oblong or plano-convex, grooved on ventral (i.e., adaxial) side; testa membranous; endosperm corneous; embryo curved; cotyledons leaflike; radicle terete, hypogynous.
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