Small perennial herbs, branched from the base, glabrous or sparsely hairy with simple or branched hairs. Leaves simple, usually spathulate-oblong, lower stalked, upper sessile, often bearing flowers in their axils, glabrous, usually entire, subfleshy. Racemes short, bracteate at least below. Flowers very small, white or pale lilac; pedicels thin, ascending or suberect in fruit. Sepals erect, not saccate at base. Petals c. twice as long as the sepals, obovate-oblong, apex subemarginate. Stamens 6; filaments linear; anthers short, ovoid or subreniform. Lateral nectar glands semiannular, open towards the inner side; middle glands present, narrow, torose, joining the laterals. Ovary oblong-elliptic or ovate-oblong, 6-12-ovuled; style short with depressed stigma. Siliculae ovate-oblong or elliptic-oblong, flattened or subcompressed, acute, glabrous; valves with a distinct mid-vein; septum incomplete or wanting, sometimes complete; seeds 2-seriate, ovate, few, not mucilaginous when wet; radicle incumbent.