Erect, stemless, perennial herbs. Rhizome usually very short and horizontal; roots thick. Leaves basal, usually distinctly petioled, the blade sublinear to ovate or obovate, many-nerved. Peduncles flattened, at least at the base, erect, usually solitary. Pedicels and inflorescence surrounded at the base by scarious scale-like leaves. Inflorescence a simple raceme. Pedicels articulated. Flowers 1-6-nate in the axils of each bract. Perianth segments fleshy, campanulate or subglobose, fused below, equal, 1-veined, white, green, blue, violet or purple. Anthers sessile, attached to a short annular tube (corona) arising from the perianth, introrse. Ovary superior to inferior, 3-celled; ovules basal, 2-5 in each locule; style simple, conical to cylindrical; stigma capitate or undifferentiated. Ovary wall rupturing early in the growth of the seeds which are therefore exposed during most of their development. Seeds blue, ellipsoid to pyriform, with fleshy testa; perianth often persistent.
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