Herbs shrublike, rhizomatous. Stems much branched above a basal, canelike internode. Leaves all cauline; petiole short, base elongate, sheathing. Inflorescences terminal on leafy branches, branched, sparsely paniculate; bracts distichous, green, herbaceous, deciduous. Common pedicel shorter or scarcely longer than bracts, pedicel thickened in fruit; bracteoles 2 per flower pair, glandular. Sepals free. Corolla tube shorter or longer than sepals; lobes narrowly elliptic to linear. Staminode tube short, subequaling corolla tube; outer staminodes 2, white, petaloid, apex emarginate; callose staminode creamy yellow, petaloid, basal, callose portion white, bearing a lateral, fleshy projection, apex strongly recurved; cucullate staminode light yellow at apex, with a subterminal, lateral, flaplike appendage. Fruit globose to ellipsoid, indehiscent; pulp ± spongy. Seeds 1--3, globose or complanate, grooved, irregularly warty; aril absent.

Three species: S and SE Asia, SW Pacific Islands; one species in China.