Perennial herbs or undershrubs with thick rhizomes. Stem solid or fistular, smooth or furrowed, glabrous or pubescent or plant acaulescent. Leaves often very large, forming a basal rosette, simple, reniform, palmately veined, entire, toothed or lobed. Ochreae scarious. Inflorescence a panicle or spike-like with the flowers born in clusters. Flowers bisexual; pedicels articulate. Perianth segments 6 in 2 whorls, distinct or connate at base, equal or outer whorl usually slightly larger, not accrescent. Stamens mostly 9, rarely 6, borne on a ring adnate to the perianth. Ovary (2-) 3 (-4)-angled; stigmas 3, capitate, styles very short. Fruit 3-angled, 2-4-winged, wings varying in size and colour. Seeds with broad cotyledons and straight embryo.