Habit: subshrubby herbs

Rhizome: retrose or transverse or creeping or ascending, with aerial roots

Stem: unbranched

Leaf: characteristics: plicate or plicate-venous, petiolate

Inflorescence: type: raceme

Inflorescence: position: terminal or subterminal

Inflorescence: other characteristics: unbranched

Flower: other characteristics: actinomorphic

Sepal: free or similar

Column: with 3 fertile stamens

Pollinia: number: 0

Fruit:type: berry, capsule

Fruit: other characteristics: dehiscent

Seed: with thick testa