Low herb with slender rootstock and sometimes underground stolons. Stem usually absent, occasionally developed. Leaves rosulate, and opposite when stem present, petiolate. Inflorescence a usualy very condensed raceme; flowers shortly pedicellate, ± sunk among leaves. Bracteoles present. Calyx broadly campanulate, 5-fid, lobes equal. Corolla bilabiate; upper lip suberect, oblong, bifid; lower lip much larger, spreading, 3-lobed, longitudinally bigibous at throat. Stamens 4, didynamous, all fertile; anther locules contiguous. Ovary broadly oblong; style slender with 2-lamellate stigmas. Fruit a fleshy bilocular berry. 

Two species in the alpine Himalaya and western China, one extending westwards into our area in eastern Kashmir. Closely allied to Mazus Lour., but differing markedly in having an indehiscent fleshy berry instead of a loculicidal capsule.

In the APG III classification (2009) Lancea is included in the family Phyrmaceae.