Dwarf shrubs or herbs with usually opposite and stipulate leaves. Flowers usually in terminal, (raceme-like) cymes, pedicellate, rarely sessile. Seplas 5, unequal, the outer 2 linear. smaller than the broader inner 3, persistent. Petals mostly yellow shorter to much exceeding the sepals. Stamens many, all fertile. Stigmas borne on a short simple style, curved at least below. Capsules 3-carpellary, 3-valved, 3-many-seeded.