Rhizomes horizontal, tuberous. Stems sometimes branched, usually spirally twisted, leafy, rarely plants stemless. Leaf blade oblong to lanceolate. Inflorescences terminal or lateral on separate, short, leafless shoots arising from rhizomes, conical, densely many flowered; bracts imbricate, 1- or 2-flowered. Calyx 3-lobed or -toothed at apex. Corolla tube equaling or longer than calyx. Labellum obovate, large, margin incurved. Stamen petaloid; anther locules linear. Ovary 3-loculed; ovules many per locule, superposed. Style filiform; stigma funnelform. Stylodes absent. Capsule subglobose or ovoid, woody. Seeds many, black; aril lacerate.

About 90 species: tropical and subtropical regions; five species (two endemic) in China.