Shrublets evergreen, low and prostrate, hermaphroditic, rarely polygamous. Leaves alternate, petiolate; stipules adnate to petiole, persistent; leaf blade simple, abaxially white, margin entire to subpinnatifid, recurved. Flowers solitary, pedicellate. Hypanthium concave, short, glandular hairy. Sepals (6–)8(–10), persistent. Petals (6–)8(–10), white, sometimes yellow, obovate. Stamens numerous, in 2 series, free. Disk lining hypanthium. Carpels numerous, free; style terminal, plumose. Achenes numerous, terminating in a persistent, plumose style. x = 9.

Between three and 14 species: mountains of Arctic and N temperate zone; one species in China.

(Authors: Li Chaoluan (Li Chao-luang); Hiroshi Ikeda, Hideaki Ohba)