Herbs perennial, hermaphroditic or polygamous, with a bulb or less often a horizontal rhizome. Leaves basal or nearly so and also cauline, linear to narrowly lanceolate. Scape erect, glabrous, without thickening. Inflorescence terminal, racemose or paniculate, glabrous; bracts linear-lanceolate to oval. Tepals 6, free or basally adnate to ovary, adaxially with 1 or 2 glands just above narrowed base, persistent. Stamens 6, free or basally adnate to perianth, slightly shorter than perianth; filaments filiform or widened in proximal part; anthers small, suborbicular to reniform, basifixed, extrorse, with confluent locules, dehiscing transversely by valves. Ovary superior or semi-inferior, 3-loculed; ovules many. Styles 3, slender. Capsule ovoid to conical, 3-lobed, ventricidal. Seeds many, oblong or oblanceolate, narrowly winged or angular.

About ten species: N Arctic to temperate regions, especially in North America; one species in China.

(Authors: Chen Xinqi (陈心启 Chen Sing-chi); Minoru N. Tamura)