Herbs, perennial; roots fibrous; rhizomes present or not. Stems erect, glabrous. Leaves: deciduous, basal, rarely also cauline, alternate, petiolate; ocrea sometimes deciduous, chartaceous; blade reniform to orbiculate-cordate, margins entire to obscurely wavy. Inflorescences: terminal, paniclelike or racemelike, pedunculate. Pedicels present. Flowers: bisexual, (1-)3-7 per ocreate fascicle, base stipelike; perianth nonaccrescent, greenish to reddish brown, campanulate, glabrous; tepals 4, in 2 whorls of 2, distinct, sepaloid, dimorphic, outer 2 narrower than inner 2; stamens (2-)6; filaments distinct, free, glabrous; anthers white to red or deep purple, elliptic to ovate; styles 2, spreading, distinct; stigmas penicillate. Achenes: exserted, yellowish to tan, winged, lenticular, glabrous. Seeds: embryo straight or curved. x = 7.