Herbs annual with a taproot. Branches declinate. Leaves mostly ternate, some leaves imperfectly 2-ternate. Basal leaves several. Stem leaves 1 or 2. Inflorescences terminal, cymose to umbelliform, few flowered; bracts foliaceous, similar to stem leaves. Flowers radially symmetric, tubular, bisexual. Pedicel slender. Sepals 5, petaloid. Petals 2 or 3, ± bilabiate. Stamens 10--15; filaments filiform, often basally slightly dilated; anthers subglobose. Pistils 6--20. Follicles erect, reticulate on lateral surfaces; persistent styles slender. Seeds 4--14, black to dark brown, slightly rugose.

One species: China, Kazakhstan, Korea, Mongolia, Russia (Siberia).

(Authors: Fu Dezhi; Orbélia R. Robinson)