Herbs, often woody towards base, shrubs, or very rarely trees. Lvs opposite, petiolate. Spikes terminal or axillary, many-flowered, often elongating greatly after flowering. Fls solitary, axillary, deflexed after anthesis; bract scarious, acute to acuminate, persistent, subtended by 2 spiny bracteoles. Tepals 5-lobed, spreading during anthesis, afterwards erect, membranous or coriaceous, pungent or not in fr. Stamens 5, much < perianth, alternating with staminodes; filaments connate at base into a cup. Ovary glabrous; ovule 1, pendent; stigma capitate. Fr. an utricle, indehiscent, dry, falling with the often spiny perianth and bracteoles.