Fls paniculate to corymbose or solitary, perfect; calyx with 5 persistent lobes, us. alternating with 5 bractlets; stamens ∞; carpels ∞, style terminal, slender; achenes with persistent style, us. jointed towards tip. Herbs, us. sparingly branched, sts scapose only; lvs radical and cauline, or cauline lvs reduced to bracts, pinnate to lyrate-pinnate. About 60 spp., all but two of the N.Z. spp. endemic.

2n = 70

Erect, rhizomatous, perennial herbs. Lvs in basal rosettes and cauline; basal lvs lyrate to imparipinnate or pinnately 3-foliolate, often with a large terminal leaflet and several pairs of smaller lateral leaflets which may be rudimentary, usually serrate or crenate; cauline lvs entire to pinnate, usually decreasing upwards, sometimes much reduced; stipules usually adnate to petiole below. Infl. a lax, bracteate cyme or fls solitary. Fls 5-merous, ☿, small- to medium-sized, sometimes nodding. Hypanthium saucer-shaped to cylindric, sometimes with a central carpophore. Epicalyx segments usually < sepals. Sepals sometimes reflexed at fruiting. Petals spreading, white, yellow, pink or reddish orange. Stamens numerous. Ovary superior; carpels numerous; styles numerous; ovules 1 per carpel. Fr. a head of many achenes; styles long or short, hairy or glabrous, sometimes elongating at fruiting, sometimes only the basal hooked portion (rostrum) persistent.