Herbs perennial. Leaves basal, long petiolate, cordate-orbicular, palmately lobed; lobes dentate to incised. Inflorescences scapose, umbellate, with bracts. Flowers 5-merous. Calyx deeply parted; lobes lanceolate, persistent. Corolla tube short; limb infundibuliform, parted to 1/2 or below. Stamens included, attached at base of corolla; filaments dilated, connate basally into a ring; anthers apiculate. Ovary ovoid; style filiform, exserted; stigma small, capitate. Capsule ovoid to subcylindric, dehiscing by 5 short valves. Seeds numerous, compressed-globose.

Approximately 10 species distributed from C Europe to N Asia; one species occurs in China.