Herbs or undershrubs, sometimes bushy and woody below, generally glandular-hairy. Leaves alternate, petiolate, simple or palmately 3-5 (-9) foliolate. Inflorescence racemose, bracteate or ebracteate. Flowers mostly small or mediocre, usually pedicellate, yellow, white or pinkish. Sepals 4, free or shortly united at the base, deciduous or persistent, often subspreading and equal. Petals 4, equal or subequal, often clawed, imbricate. Androphore absent, or inconspicuous. Stamens free, generally 4-12, subequal, sometimes a few sterile (staminodes). Gynophore present or absent; ovary 1-locular, with many ovules on 2 parietal placentas; style present or absent. Capsule usually elongated with two dehiscing valves and persistent replum (rarely subdehiscent) ; seeds many, reniform or discoid, glabrous or asperous, smooth, rugulose or ridged.