Tufted perennials, with mostly radical, flat leaves whitish ciliate on the margins and closed basal sheaths without auricles; eauline leaves shorter than radical. Inflorescence cymose, few to many flowered, sometimes condensed into a head. Flowers solitary or crowded in glomerules. Perianth segments mostly equal, connate to sub-connate at base, subcoriaceous, acute, often dark-coloured. Stamens (3-) 6, included. Capsules trigonous, 1-celled, loculicidal, 3-seeded only (or lesser due to abortion); seed often carunculate at one end, smooth and shiny.