Perennial tufted or stilt-rooted herbs. Roots fibrous. Leaves terete; bases sheathing; margins scarious, entire. Inflorescence a scapose or pedunculate, condensed globular spike; young inflorescence surrounded by imbricate scarious bracts. Flowers usually exceeding bracts, bisexual, actinomorphic, sessile. Perianth segments 6, equal, shortly united at base, purple or cream. Stamens 3; filaments broad; anthers linear, clustered around style, dehiscing by slits, introrse. Ovary superior, 3-locular; ovules 2 per locule; style filiform; stigma capitate, small. Fruit a loculicidal capsule. Seeds kidney-shaped, black, shining; aril prominent.
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