Herbs perennial, bulbiferous. Leaves basal, ligulate or ensiform, often large, with extensible fibers visible when torn. Flowering stem solid. Inflorescences umbellate, rarely flower solitary; involucres large and broad. Flowers pedicellate or sessile. Perianth actinomorphic or slightly zygomorphic, salverform or subsalverform; lobes oblong, lanceolate, or linear, straight or curved upward. Stamens inserted at throat of perianth tube; filament suberect to declinate, filiform; anther versatile, linear. Ovary 3-loculed; ovules 2 to many per locule. Style slightly decumbent, slender; stigma capitate, small. Fruit a capsule, subglobose, dehiscing irregularly. Seeds orbicular or angular, large.

According to the literature, Crinum asiaticum Linnaeus var. anomalum Herbert, C. asiaticum var. declinatum Herbert, and C. loureiroi M. Roemer also occur in China, but no specimens of these taxa have been seen by the present authors.

Between 65 and over 100 species: tropical and subtropical regions of both hemispheres, mainly in Africa; two species in China.