Shrubs or subshrubs. Leaves opposite or alternate, mostly sessile, often ericoid. Inflorescence a terminal head (in Victoria), occasionally flowers solitary in upper leaf axis; with or without involucral bracts. Flowers bisexual; floral tube cylindric or narrow-campanulate, basal portion persistent; sepals 4 (in Victoria) or 5; petals 4–12, shorter than calyx lobes, or absent; stamens 8 or 10, in two whorls, unequal, those opposite petals in throat of floral tube or slightly exserted, filaments short or absent; nectary disc usually present; ovary 1-locular, stigma usually capitate, papillose. Fruit dry.
About 150 species, mainly from Africa; 1 species naturalised in Australia.
