Herbs, achlorophyllous, heterotrophic. Stems absent. Leaves absent. Inflorescences racemes, erect at emergence from soil, axis fleshy and fibrous, persistent after seed dispersal, white with red to maroon vertical stripes, 0.5-1 cm diam. proximal to proximalmost flower. Pedicels erect, somewhat elongated in fruit; bracteoles absent. Flowers radially symmetric, erect to spreading; sepals absent, rarely 2-5, distinct, linear to filiform; petals 5, distinct, white, without basal tubercles, (surfaces glabrous), corolla crateriform; intrastaminal nectary disc present; stamens 10, exserted; filaments terete, glabrous; anthers ovoid, without awns, without tubules, dehiscent by 2 oval slits; pistil 5-carpellate; ovary 5-locular; placentation axile; style straight, stout; stigma peltate, without subtending ring of hairs. Fruits capsular, erect, dehiscence basipetally loculicidal, no cobwebby tissue exposed by splitting valves at dehiscence. Seeds 100+, fusiform, mostly narrowly winged. x = 13.