Perennial, dioecious, herbs. Rhizome creeping or tufted. Stems scrambling (Victoria), ± terete, green, minutely warty or smooth, branched; hollow portion of stem pith triangular in section. Leaves reduced to sheathing bracts, 10–20 mm long (Victoria). Inflorescence axillary, sexes similar, made up of several clusters of flowers. Flowers not in definite spikelets, each subtended by 1 or 2 floral bracts; perianth of 6 glume-like bracts, longer than floral bracts. Male flowers with inner whorl of perianth longer than outer. Female flowers with 3 staminodes; ovary 3-locular and 3-angled; styles 3. Fruit a capsule.
7 species in Australia and New Zealand, 6 endemic to Australia, 1 in Victoria.
