Herbs perennial, creeping, low or dwarf, unarmed, rarely with needle-like prickles. Leaves compound, 3–5-foliolate; stipules persistent, free, at junction of stem and petiole, broad, occasionally narrow, undivided, rarely divided. Flowers bisexual, several in clusters or solitary. Aggregate fruit adnate to torus, falling away from base of torus at maturity, not hollow.

Nine species (two endemic) in China.