Rhoeo Hance; Zebrina Schnizlein.

Herbs perennial. Rhizomes absent. Stems decumbent, ascending, or erect. Leaves distichous or spirally arranged. Cincinni pseudoterminal or lateral, solitary, fascicled, or forming a panicle, sessile; involucral bracts mostly spathelike; bracts filiform. Flowers actinomorphic. Sepals free or connate at base, boat-shaped. Petals free or with claws fused at base, white or pink, ovate. Stamens 6, all fertile, subequal or antepetalous 3 shorter; filaments glabrous or bearded; anther locules ellipsoid or oblong, longitudinally dehiscent. Ovary 3-loculed; ovules 2 per locule. Capsule 3-valved, ovoid. Seeds (1 or)2 per valve, subpyramidal, rugose reticulate; hilum linear, minute.

About 70 species: mainly in tropical America; two species (introduced) in China.