Herbs perennial, shortly rhizomatous, with several membranous sheaths surrounding leaf bases. Roots thick, densely hairy. Leaves basal, tufted, sessile, grasslike. Scape erect, angled and narrowly winged. Inflorescence a terminal raceme, many flowered; bracts 2 at base of each pedicel. Flowers solitary or rarely paired; pedicel usually curved, articulate apically. Tepals 6, free. Stamens 6, inserted at base of tepals; filaments flattened, membranous, slightly connate basally; anthers basifixed. Ovary ovoid, 3-loculed; ovules 6--10 per locule. Style slender, elongate; stigma small. Fruit a berry. Seeds several, subglobose, thinly coated.

One species: Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Sikkim.

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