Perennial herbs with rhizomes. Stems and leaves glabrous or pubescent. Leaves imparipinnate in a basal rosette and cauline. Basal leaves with 3-12 pairs of leaflets. Leaflets elliptic to obovate with serrate to crenate margins and 2-14 teeth on each side. Flowering stems usually erect, often branched. Inflorescences terminal, dense spikes or heads with uni- and bisexual flowers. Hypanthium unarmed, dry, usually 4-angled, rarely elliptic or 4-winged, closed at mouth. Epicalyx and petals absent, sepals 4, petaloid, white, green or reddish, caducous. Stamens 2-many, exserted. Carpels 1-2(-3), included in hypanthium. Pistils 1-2(-3), stigmas penicillate. Fruit a 4-angled pometum, achenes 1(-2), free.

About 15 species, mostly in Eurasia and North Africa, 2 in North America; represented in Pakistan by 1 subspecies.