Fleshy seasonally-dormant herbs with stem reduced to a stout, ± rhizomatous underground tuber. Leaves erect, 1–several, subtended by several basal cataphylls; petiole stout, fleshy, pulvinate in upper half, base massively swollen and persistent in dormant phase; blade compound, pinnate; leaflets distant, fleshy, eventually deciduous, propagating vegetatively by formation of tuber at leaflet-base. Inflorescences 1–2, appearing with leaves, borne at leaf-base near ground-level, subtended by several cataphylls. Spathe convolute basally forming short tube, upper part expanded, spreading or reflexed. Spadix ± equalling spathe, lower part enclosed by spathe-tube, bearing pistillate flowers, separated from staminate part by short constricted part bearing sterile flowers, upper exposed part bearing staminate flowers. Flowers unisexual, each with perigon of 4 decussate, subprismatic, subcucullate, fleshy tepals. Staminate flower: stamens 4, shorter than tepals; filaments free, oblong, thick, fleshy; anthers with slender connective, dehiscing by lateral slits; central pistillode clavate, stipitate, equalling tepals. Pistillate flower: staminodes lacking; pistil ovoid, tapering to short style, equalling tepals; ovary 2-locular; ovules solitary in each locule; placentation axile, near base of septum; stigma discoid. Berries borne in ellipsoid infructescence, 1–2-seeded. Seeds lacking endosperm (?).
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