Panicles laxly branched or with dense clusters of flowers, sometimes simple; sterile spathes foliaceous, floral bracts membranaceous. Flowers usually white, rarely blue. Perianth spreading; tepals free, the outer three (sepals) usually smaller than the inner three (petals). Stamens three, staminal filaments very shortly connate at the base, ± flattened; anthers versatile. Pollen ellipsoidal, monosulcate. Ovary 3- locular; style short with 3 ± keeled entire branches that spread between stamens. Fruit a subglobose to oblong or pyriform capsule. Seeds many, rounded to angular, ± reticulate-foveolate. Tufted, shortly rhizomatous or stoloniferous herbs of grass-like habit, wholly or almost completely glabrous. Leaves usually in flattened fans, connected by short or elongate rhizomes. Perennial (Moore & Edgar 1970).

2n = 228

n = 114

2n = c. 230

2n = 171

2n = 12x [c. 228]

n = 114

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