Herbs perennial, with a short rhizome. Leaves several, basal, entire. Scape erect, often leafless. Inflorescence terminal, umbellate or racemose, rarely 1-flowered; rachis and pedicels usually elongate in fruit. Flowers small. Tepals 6, free, ascending to spreading, subequal. Stamens 6, inserted at base of tepals; filaments filiform; anthers pseudobasifixed, ellipsoid, semiextrorse. Ovary ovoid-globose, (2 or)3-loculed; ovules several to many per locule. Style columnar; stigma obscurely 3-lobed. Fruit a berry. Seeds 2 or more; testa usually brownish.

Although Tamura (in Kubitzki, Fam. Gen. Vasc. Pl. 3: 350. 1998) placed Clintonia in the Liliaceae sensu stricto, Wu Zhengyi (editor’s note) believes it should be treated in the segregate family Medeolaceae. Takhtajan (Diversity Classific. Fl. Pl. 487. 1997) recognized Medeolaceae but placed Clintonia in the Uvulariaceae (pp. 482--483).

Five species: temperate to subarctic regions of E Asia and North America; one species in China.

(Authors: Chen Xinqi (陈心启 Chen Sing-chi); Minoru N. Tamura)