Herbs, annual. Stem solitary, delicate. Leaves narrowly grasslike, margin entire. Synflorescence diffuse. Capitula with few to some florets. Involucre small, cylindric at anthesis, spreading in fruit. Phyllaries in 1 outer and 1 inner series. Receptacle naked. Achene columnar-scorpioid, usually with 5 ribs, abaxially and apically hooked spiny. Pappus absent.

Five species: N Africa, C, S, and SW Asia, S Europe; one species in China.

(Authors: Shi Zhu (石铸 Shih Chu); Norbert Kilian)