Lianas woody, latex white. Leaves opposite. Cymes lax, terminal, pseudoaxillary, or axillary. Flowers white or purplish, 5merous. Calyx small, deeply divided, basal glands 5-10, apex usually denticulate. Corolla salverform; tube cylindric, 5-angled, dilated at staminal insertion, throat constricted; lobes sharply overlapping to right. Stamens inserted at lower third of corolla tube; anthers sagittate, connivent, adherent to pistil head, anther tips included or exserted, cells spurred at base; disc scales 5, free. Ovaries 2, free, usually longer than disc; ovules numerous in each ovary. Style short; pistil head conical. Follicles 2, linear or fusiform, divergent or parallel. Seeds linear-oblong, not beaked, coma silky white; endosperm copious; cotyledons linear, flat, radicle short.

About 15 species: one in North America, the others in Asia; six species in China.