Habit: Terrestrial, Herbaceous, Trees or shrubs, Pseudostem from leaf bases, Perennials

Roots: Rhizomes, Sap clear

Stems: elongate, contracted, rounded, solid

Leaves: Leaves - petiolate, Leaves - sheathing at base, Leaves - sheath open, Leaves - simple, Leaves - cauline, Leaves - alternate, Leaves - 2-ranked (distichous), Leaves - blade broad, Leaves - venetion pinnate-parallel, Leaves - soft, Leaves - margins entire

Inflorescence: terminal, bracteate, cymes, subtended by large spathe (leaf-like bract), bracts brightly colored, enclosed by distichous boat-shaped bracts, Flowers pedicellate

Flowers: Flowers bisexual, Perianth present, Flowers small, Flowers large and showy, Flowers 3 merous, Flowers zygomorphic, Floral bracteoles present

Sepals/Tepals: Tepals 6 (Sepals indistinguishable from petals), Sepals colored (not green), Sepals separate, Sepals united

Petals/Tepals: Petals 3, Petals 6, Petals united into tube, Petals basally united, Petals white (to pinkish), Petals yellow, Corona present

Stamens: Stamens 5, Stamens 6 (3+3), Staminodes present

Pistil: Carpels united, Carpels 3, Ovary inferior, Styles 1, Stigma terminal capitate or trilobed, Locules 3, Placentation axile

Fruit: Fruit - drupe

Seeds: Seeds - single per locule, Seeds - surface +/- smooth