Herbs suffruticose. Stems caespitose, erect, many branched. Leaves subulate or linear-lanceolate, spinose. Flowers in panicles, corymbs, or capitula; bracts leaflike, ovate, lanceolate, or needlelike, margin sometimes spinose. Calyx tubular or campanulate, membranous between veins, 5(--15)-veined, apex 5-toothed. Petals 5, red, rarely white; claw long, narrow; limb apically entire, rarely retuse. Gynophore short, rarely long. Stamens 10, in 2 series, those inserted opposite petals shorter. Ovary 1-loculed; ovules 4--10. Styles 2. Capsule suboblong or subglobose, membranous proximally, irregularly transversely dehiscent or toothed. Seeds 1 or 2, subreniform, slightly compressed; embryo annular.

About 50 species: C and W Asia; one species in China.

(Authors: Lu Dequan; Nicholas J. Turland)