Herbs perennial. Rhizomes thick. Stems brown paleaceous hairy or long pilose. Leaves alternate, long petiolate, 2-4 × ternately compound, rarely simple; stipules membranous; leaflets lanceolate, ovate, or broadly ovate to elliptic, margin dentate. Inflorescence a terminal panicle, bracteate. Flowers white, lilac, or purple, bisexual or unisexual, rarely plants polygamous or dioecious. Sepals (4 or)5. Petals usually 1-5, sometimes more or absent. Stamens usually (5 or)8-10. Carpels 2(or 3), ± connate or free; ovary subsuperior or semi-inferior, 2(or 3)-loculed with axile placentation or 1-loculed with marginal placentation; ovules many. Fruit a capsule or follicle. Seeds small.

About 18 species: Asia, North America: seven species (three endemic) in China.

(Authors: Pan Jintang ; Hideaki Ohba)