Herbs perennial, erect, simple. Leaves in a dense rosette; leaf sheath scarcely enlarged; leaf blade spinose serrate at margin. Inflorescence erect, scapose, strobiliform, apex with a tuft of sterile, leafy bracts. Flowers bisexual. Petals each bearing 2 funnelform, slender scales. Ovaries inferior, coalescing and with bracts and rachis forming a compound, fleshy fruit (syncarp).

Eight species: South America; one species (introduced) in China.