Glabrous perennial herbs with stout, usually branching rhizomes often forming dense mats in cold swamps (snowbeds). Leaves spirally arranged, forming basal rosettes, simple, ± cordate to hastate at base, usually with 2 wing-like appendages or lobes lying almost against upper surface of blade. Flowers actinomorphic, bisexual, scapose. Perianth of 5 or more petaloid tepals, narrow in most species, not spurred, white, magenta-pink or pale yellow. Nectaries absent. Stamens usually not more than 25. Carpels usually 2–18. Ovules numerous. Fruiting follicles several to many, radiating in a head, free, shortly beaked; seeds several.
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