Rhizomes branched, fleshy, aromatic, often with tuber-bearing roots. Leaves basal; leaf blade broadly lanceolate or oblong, rarely narrowly linear. Inflorescence a terminal spike on pseudostems or on separate shoots arising from rhizomes, sometimes appearing before leaves; peduncle erect; bracts connate for ca. 1/2 their length and forming pouches, spreading at free ends, each subtending a cincinnus of 2--7 flowers, apical bracts often differently colored, large, sterile, forming a coma; bracteoles free to base. Calyx usually shortly tubular, split on 1 side, apex 2- or 3-lobed or -toothed. Corolla funnelform; lobes ovate or oblong, subequal or central lobe longer, apex mucronate. Lateral staminodes petaloid, basally adnate to filament and labellum. Labellum with a thickened, central portion and thinner, lateral lobes overlapping with lateral staminodes. Filament short, broad; anther versatile, base usually spurred; connective appendage absent. Ovary 3-loculed. Capsule ellipsoid, 3-valved, dehiscent.

About 50 species: SE Asia, one species in Australia; 12 species (six endemic, one introduced) in China.