Leaf base sessile or narrowed into a petiole, spurred. Inflorescence branches often scorpioid, rarely corymbiform. Flowers mostly sessile, basal flower sometimes pedicellate. Sepals spurred or spurless. Petals yellow. Carpels mostly subdivergent to spreading stellately at maturity, sometimes erect, adaxially gibbous, base connate. Follicles usually spreading-divergent, sometimes erect, adaxially gibbous. Seeds mostly papillate, sometimes smooth.

More than 60 species: Asia, Europe; 49 species (34 endemic) in China.