Herbs, perennial. Rhizomes stout, shortly nodose; aerial stems erect, with large brown scales at base. Leaves 2, simple, petiolulate; base cordate, apex 3-5-dissected, usually to ca. midway or more, sometimes partitions 2- or 3-lobed. Inflorescence terminal. Flowers appearing before leaves, bisexual, solitary, pink, large. Sepals 6, caducous. Petals 6, open. Anthers basifixed, dehiscing longitudinally. Pistils 1; ovary ellipsoid, 1-loculed, with numerous ovules. Fruit a berry. Seeds numerous, without fleshy arils. Pollen grains in tetrads. 2n = 12*, 14*.

Sinopodophyllum was included within Podophyllum by Shaw (in Stearn, Gen. Epimedium, 258. 2002).

One species: E Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, N India, Kashmir, Nepal, and Pakistan.

(Authors: Ying Junsheng (应俊生 Ying Tsun-shen); David E. Boufford, Anthony R. Brach)