Caespitose, cushion or dense tufted semishrubs, scapose or escapose. Branches covered with the persistent remains of the leaves. Leaves imbricate, simple, revolute or involute, entire or denticulate, farinose or efarinose (farina whitish or yellow), often glandular-stipitate. Flowers 5-merous, heterostylous, yellow, pink or violet, umbellate or in superposed verticels or solitary. Bracts small, large and foliaceous in the scapose species. Calyx 1/2 to 2/3 rd-partite. Corolla much exceeding the calyx, tubular; limb 5-lobed, entire or slightly 2-lobed. Stamens epipetalous, sub-sessile; filaments attached near the middle (in pin-eyed flowers) or near the throat. Ovules few. Style slender, stigma capitate. Capsule dehiscing by 5 valves. Seeds small, angled, minutely vesiculose, up to 35 in number.