Herbs perennial. Rhizomes thick, scaly. Leaves all basal, petiolate; leaf blade cordate to ovate, margin irregularly dentate. Inflorescence cymose, ebracteate. Hypanthium adnate to ovary at base. Sepals 5(-7), white, petaloid. Petals absent. Stamens 10(-14). Carpels 2, proximally connate; ovary 1/4 subsuperior, proximally 1-loculed with axile placentation, distally with marginal placentation. Fruit a capsule, dehiscing between styles. Seeds numerous, small.

Oresitrophe is most closely related to the monotypic Mukdenia. Its other close relatives are Astilboides, Bergenia, Darmera Voss, and Rodgersia.

* One species.

(Authors: Pan Jintang ; Douglas E. Soltis)