Perennial herbs with vertical short rhizomes and fusiform tuberous roots. Leaves basal, linear with sheathing bases. Inflorescence scapose, usually dense elongated many flowered raceme which get further elongated in fruit. Bracts membranous, acuminate. Flowers 1 per bract axil, pedicellate, pedicel not articulated. Tepals free, or connate at base slightly cupshaped, white or yellow. Stamens equal, exserted, filaments straight, not dilated towards the base, basifixed. Ovary trilocular, seeds several per locule, style filiform. Fruit a loculicidal capsule. Seeds irregularly 3-angled.