Mostly perennial herbs with woody rhizomes, sometimes annuals or small shrubs. Stems erect to decumbent. Leaves stipulate, alternate, simple and ± orbicular or palmately lobed, rarely pinnate. Stipules adnate to petiole. Inflorescence cymose, axillary, rarely reduced to a single flower, bracteate. Flowers small, bisexual, 4(5)-merous. Hypanthium urceolate, almost closed at the mouth by the disk. Epicalyx lobes smaller than and alternating with sepals, rarely absent. Sepals valvate. Petals absent. Disk nectariferous, intra- or extrastaminal. Stamens 1-4(5), ante- or alternisepalous, filaments free. Pistils 1-4(-12), free, ± stipitate. Stylodia basal, stigma capitate. Ovule 1, ascending. Fruit a pometum, achenes 1-4(-12). Seed with thin testa, without endosperm.

A genus estimated to include between 113 and 400 species (including c. 80 Lachemilla and c. 20 Aphanes) distributed worldwide. The number of species is currently unknown because many reproduce apomictically. Some authors have recognised over 1000 microspecies.