Rhizomatous perennial herbs. Roots fibrous or tuberous. Leaves usually basal, linear, flat, perennial. Inflorescence a bracteate raceme or panicle; flowers bisexual, perianth segments equal, spreading, free or fused at base, 1-nerved; stamens 6, filaments subulate, scabrid, anthers dorsifixed; ovary superior, trilocular, ovules 2–16 per locule, style filiform, stigma capitate. Fruit a loculicidal capsule; seeds angled, black.
About 50 species from Africa; 1 species naturalised in Australia.
