Herbs perennial, glabrous or hairy. Roots short, fibrous. Stolons present; sterile stems usually present. Basal leaves in subsessile rosettes, spiral or decussate, mostly alternate; stem leaves alternate. Flowering stems erect, very slender but strong. Inflorescence terminal, racemiform or paniculiform, formed by many cymelets, many flowered; bracts acuminate at apex. Flowers bisexual, 5-merous. Sepals lanceolate-triangular, spurless. Petals connate at base, red or purple, lanceolate, apex acute. Stamens 1 or 2 × as many as petals, inserted opposite sepals; anthers oblong-reniform. Nectar scales short. Carpels nearly free, oblong, base attenuate or stalked. Styles long. Follicles erect, many seeded. Seeds ovoid, minutely papillate.

* Two species.

(Authors: Fu Kunjun (Fu Kun-tsun); Michael G. Gilbert)