Perennial herbs, subshrubs or shrubs. Lvs alternate, opposite or verticillate, free, simple and entire, toothed, or pinnatifid to pinnate, often with pseudobulbs or plantlets on margins, not crowded into dense terminal rosettes but borne along stems. Infl. of cymes usually arranged in thyrses, sometimes corymbose, generally with many fls, usually terminal. Fls 4-merous, ± pendulous. Calyx usually divided to much < 1/2 way, sometimes divided to c. ⅚; lobes equal. Petals united to form a tube > lobes, somewhat fleshy, greenish or purplish red; tube broadly cylindric to urceolate, 4-angled; lobes spreading or reflexed. Stamens 8, in 2 equal or unequal whorls, epipetalous, ± exserted. Scales free, linear to quadrate or semiannular. Carpels 4, ± connate at base. Seeds numerous.