Plants rhizomatous or stoloniferous. Stems decumbent or ascending to erect, glabrous proximally, stipitate-glandular distally. Leaf blades elliptic-lanceolate to oblanceolate, base acuminate, apex acuminate. Inflorescences pedunculate, branches stipitate-glandular. Pedicels present, stipitate-glandular. Flowers: hypanthium stipitate-glandular; sepals green or reddish, triangular to narrowly triangular; petals inconspicuous, white or greenish white; filaments white, yellow, or pink, glabrous; anthers yellow or pink. Seeds minutely tuberculate. x = 8 or 9. Penthorum chinense Pursh is known from European Russia and Asia.