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Herbs perennial, rhizomatous, sympodial, usually terrestrial, rarely epiphytic. Stem erect, arching, or sometimes ± scandent, simple. Leaves cauline, lateral and pseudoterminal, alternate, opposite, or whorled, sessile or shortly petiolate, sometimes cirrose at apex. Inflorescences axillary, umbel-, corymb-, or racemelike, or a solitary flower; bracts present or absent, when present herbaceous, membranous, or scarious, persistent or caducous. Flowers bisexual, usually pendulous, rarely erect; pedicel articulate at apex. Perianth segments 6, valvate, connate proximally and forming a tube usually for at least 1/2 their length. Corona absent. Stamens 6; filaments proximally adnate to perianth tube, free part filiform or flattened, short to long, smooth, papillose or hairy; anthers basifixed to dorsifixed and versatile, introrse, base 2-lobed. Ovary 3-loculed; ovules 2--8 per locule. Style slender; stigma 3-lobed, small. Fruit a berry, globose, several to more than 10-seeded. Seeds subglobose.
Perianth regular, tubular, shortly 6-lobed; stamens included, inserted on the perianth-tube; anthers introrse, oblong-linear or sagittate; ovary ovoid to globose, 3-locular; ovules numerous in each locule; style slender, shorter than the perianth; stigma capitate, obscurely lobed; fr a dark blue or black, several-seeded berry; herbs from a knotty rhizome with conspicuous large scars marking the position of previous stems; stem erect or arching, bearing in the upper part numerous alternate lvs in 2 ranks and short, axillary, 1–15-fld peduncles with pendulous, white to greenish or yellow fls. 50, N. Temp.
Erect, summer-green perennials. Rhizome stout, fleshy, far-extending. Stems leafy above, sheath-bearing below. Leaves numerous, all cauline, alternate, opposite or whorled. Flowers tubular-campanulate, ebracteate, nodding or pendulous, solitary and axillary, or in few-flowered axillary racemes; pedicels articulate; tube long; apical lobes deltoid, ± spreading. Berry globose. Seeds many. Spp. c. 50, from N. Temperate regions. Adventive sp. 1.
