Herbs annual. Stems subscandent, branched. Leaves opposite, petiolate; leaf blade ovate-lanceolate; stipules absent. Inflorescence a thyrse, terminal or axillary. Flowers numerous, 5-merous, pedicellate. Sepals free, subscarious, persisting in fruit. Petals lanceolate, much shorter than sepals, margin entire. Stamens ca. as many as sepals, alternating with anther-less staminodes. Ovary 1-loculed, with 3 or 4 ovules; styles 2. Fruit a capsule, oblate, 4-valved, 1-seeded. Seed reniform or globose; testa tuberculate.

One species: SE Asia, China, Himalayas.

(Authors: Lu Dequan; Michael G. Gilbert)