Perennial herbs. Leafy stems in clumps from short rhizomes. Leaves distichous, with long sheathing bases forming a pseudostem, narrowly ovate to obovate, attenuate at the base into a pseudopetiole; ligule very short and stiff; sheaths sulcate, sometimes pitted or reticulate. Inflorescences paniculate, separate from the leafy shoots. Inflorescence-axis bearing oblong to ovate bracts, subtending small cincinni of 1-8 or more flowers, each subtended by a tubular bracteole. Calyx tubular, 3-fid at the apex, persistent in fruit. Corolla 3-lobed, adnate below to the androecial tube. Fruit a fleshy capsule which may be tardily dehiscent. Seeds shiny, striate, angular, surrounded by a fimbriate aril.
Worldwide: About 55 species mainly in South America.
Caprivi: 0 cultivated taxa. |
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