Rhizomes very short; roots fascicled, thick, fleshy. Leaves petiolate or ± sessile; ligule at base of petiole; leaf blade oblong or lanceolate. Inflorescence a terminal spike; bracts colored, persistent, 1-flowered. Flowers yellow or orange. Calyx long tubular, split on 1 side. Corolla tube equaling or longer than calyx; lobes subequal; central one erect, narrow, concave; lateral ones connate to claw of labellum for about 1/2 their length. Lateral staminodes erect, petaloid. Labellum reflexed, broadly cuneate, apex emarginate to 2-cleft. Filament erect, short; anther locules linear, contiguous; connective forming a basal, forked appendage. Ovary globose, 3-loculed; ovules numerous per locule; placentation axile. Style linear; stigma turbinate, margin ciliate. Capsule globose, soon dehiscing to base with recurved valves exposing seeds on a columnar mass. Seeds red, gray, or black, angled; aril small or absent.

Five species: Bhutan, China, India, Kashmir, Myanmar, Nepal, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam; three species in China.