Herbs, perennial. Stem terete, erect, fluted, glabrous, branched above, hollow. Basal and lower leaves long-petiolate, sheath membranous and clasping; blade broad-triangular or triangular-ovate, ternate-pinnate; ultimate segments irregularly dentate or serrate. Leaves reduced upwards. Flowers densely crowded into a compact, globose heads, inflorescence appearing simple, umbels terminal and lateral; bracts several, subulate to linear-lanceolate, entire. Calyx teeth minute, ovate-triangular. Petals dark brown or purplish brown, obovate apex narrowly inflexed, or spoon-shaped, apex acute. Stylopodium depressed; styles short. Fruit obovoid-oblong or long-ellipsoid, glabrous, slightly dorsally compressed; ribs conspicuous to narrow-winged; vittae (1–)3 in each furrow, 3–6 on commissure. Seed face plane. Carpophore not seen.

Two species: Bhutan, China, NE India; two species (one endemic) in China.

(Authors: She Menglan (佘孟兰 Sheh Meng-lan); Mark F. Watson)