Shrubs, often ericoid, sometimes spinescent; branchlets pubescent with stellate and/or simple hairs. Leaves alternate, fasciculate, petiolate to subsessile; stipules persistent, connate around base of petiole. Inflorescence a single flower subtended by several imbricate bracts and (usually) a leaf, but sometimes clustered terminally in apparent heads. Flowers bisexual; hypanthium extending beyond ovary; sepals 5, usually shorter than hypanthium, persisting on mature fruit; petals 5, attached at or near summit of hypanthium, shorter than free part of sepals, closely hooding stamens; stamens attached shortly below petals; disc narrow, pubescent, closely surrounding ovary summit; ovary inferior to semi-inferior, summit pubescent (in Victoria); carpels 3 (rarely 2), style entire or 3-lobed. Fruit a schizocarp; mericarps dehiscent by a medial longitudinal slit; seeds red-brown, sometimes with paler mottling, shortly arillate.