Krascheninikovia Turczaninow ex Fenzl in Endlicher, Gen. Pl. 968. 1840, not Gueldenstaedt (1772).

Herbs perennial. Root tubers fusiform, ovoid or subglobose. Stems erect or ascending, sometimes repent. Leaves ovate, ovate-lanceolate, or linear-lanceolate; stipules absent. Flowers of two types. Chasmogamic flowers larger, solitary in distal leaf axils or in terminal cymes, bracts immediately subtending calyx absent, pedicel longer, usually without fruit; sepals (4 or)5; petals (4 or)5, white, entire or emarginate; stamens (8 or)10; ovary globose or ovoid, 1-loculed, ovules numerous; styles (2 or)3; stigma capitate. Cleistogamic flowers smaller, on stem in proximal leaf axils, shortly pedicellate or subsessile; sepals 4(or 5); petals very small, membranous, or absent; stamens reduced, rarely 2; ovary globose or ovoid, 1-loculed, ovules numerous; styles 2 or 3. Capsule (2 or) 3(or 4)-valved. Seeds few, large, somewhat flattened, tuberculate or smooth; embryo curved.

About 18 species: E and N Asia, one species in Europe, two species in North America; nine species (two endemic) in China.

(Authors: Lu Dequan; Richard K. Rabeler)