Herbs perennial, rhizomatous, evergreen. Rhizome prostrate on ground, laxly many noded. Leaves tufted at rhizome tip, inconspicuously petiolate, gradually narrowed toward base. Scape arising from a leaf axil, erect, shorter than leaves, naked. Inflorescence a terminal spike, few to many flowered; bracts brownish or purplish, membranous. Flowers bisexual, sessile. Perianth segments proximally connate to form a tube, distally free. Stamens 6, inserted in throat of perianth tube; filaments filiform, proximally adnate to perianth tube; anthers dorsifixed. Ovary 3-loculed; ovules 2 per locule. Style columnar, slender; stigma capitate to 3-lobed. Fruit a berry, globose, several seeded.

The identity of Reineckea incurva H. Léveillé & Vaniot (Mem. Pontif. Accad. Romana Nuovi Lincei 23: 362. 1905), described from Guizhou, is uncertain. The present authors as well as McKean (Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 44: 195. 1986) did not see the type and therefore could not assess its status.

One species: China, Japan.

(Authors: Liang Songyun (梁松筠 Liang Song-jun); Minoru N. Tamura)