Shrubs, rarely subshrubs, deciduous, erect or prostrate. Leaves simple, alternate, sessile, usually densely arranged on green young branches of current year, margin entire. Flowers bisexual, shortly petiolate, clustered into terminal or lateral racemes or panicles; bracts broadly or narrowly membranous along margin. Calyx 5-fid; lobes often membranous along margin. Petals 5, pink, white, or purplish red, obovate, narrowly elliptic, or obovate-oblong, apex obtuse or emarginate, often incurved, usually persistent in fruit. Stamens 10: 5 long and 5 short; filaments ca. 1/2 or 2/3 united, rarely free; anthers 2-thecate, longitudinally dehiscent, yellow. Pistils consisting of 3 carpels; ovary 3-angled; placentation basal; ovules numerous; stigmas capitate, 3-lobed. Capsule 3-septicidal. Seeds numerous, apex awned; awns white villous throughout or on more than half; endosperm absent.
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