Herbs, perennial, usually rhizomatous and/or lignescent-tuberous-rooted. Stems erect, simple, internodes winged by decurrent leaf bases, lanate-tomentose and/or glandular. Leaves cauline, alternate, sessile; blade linear to elliptic or obovate, base decurrent, margin usually serrate to serrulate or denticulate, rarely entire. Capitula disciform, sessile, in spiciform arrays. Involucre cylindric-campanulate to campanulate; phyllaries persistent, in 4-6 series, distinct, narrowly lanceolate, unequal. Receptacles flat, epaleate. Ray florets absent. Marginal florets female, in 1-3+ series, fertile; corollas yellowish. Central florets bisexual, but functionally male, (1 or)2-15; corollas yellowish, lobes 5. Style with acute sweeping hairs reaching furcation. Achenes cylindric to fusiform, angled or slightly compressed, ribs 6-9, faces usually sparsely strigose to hispidulous, minutely sessile glandular between ribs. Pappus persistent, of distinct, scabrid bristles in 1 or 2 series. x = 10.

About 18 species: SE Asia, Australia, North and South America; one species in China.