Herbs, perennial, terrestrial or epipetric, rhizomatous, stemless. Leaves few to many, basal; leaf blade puberulent to pilose, rarely sericeous or velutinous, base cuneate to cordate, rarely peltate. Inflorescences usually lax, rarely subumbel-like, axillary, 1-4(-7)-flowered cymes; bracts usually 2, opposite or alternate. Calyx actinomorphic, rarely zygomorphic, 5-sect from base, rarely 3-lobed to 3-sect from base; segments equal, rarely unequal. Corolla blue to purple or white, zygomorphic, inside glabrous, sometimes puberulent; tube broadly tubular, not swollen, shorter than limb, 2-5 mm in diam.; limb 2-lipped; adaxial lip 2-lobed, equalling or much shorter than abaxial lip; abaxial lip 3-lobed, lobes equal or subequal, apex rounded. Stamens 2, adnate to abaxial side of corolla tube near base, included; anthers basifixed, coherent at apex, thecae parallel, confluent at apex or not, dehiscing longitudinally; connective not projecting; staminodes (absent or 1-)3, adnate to adaxial side of corolla tube. Disc absent. Ovary conical to broadly ovoid, 1-loculed; placentas 2, parietal, projecting inward, 2-cleft. Stigma 1, terminal, capitate, often nearly globose, undivided. Capsule straight in relation to pedicel, narrowly ellipsoid to oblong to ovoid, nearly as long as calyx, dehiscing loculicidally to base; valves 2, straight, not twisted. Seeds unappendaged.
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