Erect, decumbent or prostrate herbs or under shrubs, with many upright and flexuous branches. Leaves somewhat fleshy or succulent, flat or subterete not scale-like, often crowded, sessile or subsessile, entire, exstipulate. Inflorescence solitary axillary or terminal, sometimes racemosely arranged. Flowers bisexual, often showy, with many sepaloid bracts. Sepals 5, elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, coriaceous or fleshy, persistent. Petals 5, broadly clawed, spreading, sometimes oblique, obtuse or slightly notched at the apex with 2 longitudinal fimbriate, toothed or entire appendages on the inside limb. Stamens nearly 70, free, more or less connate commonly into 5 phalanges, opposite the petals, inserted below the ovary, filaments subulate or filiform, persistent, anthers elliptic or subrounded, profoundly cordate. Ovary 3-5 valved, globose, styles 3-5, free, filiform or subulate, placenta septiform, erect from the base, reaching to the apex of the locules, 4-10 ovuled at the base. Capsule globose or ellipsoid, dehiscing by 3-5 valves. Seeds erect, densely covered all along with brownish spreading hairs; endosperm minute, cotyledons ovate with short radicle.