Evergreen perennial. Rhizome woody, long or short. Leaves several, basal and a few cauline, acuminate, linear, parallel-veined, ensiform, equitant, erect or in a flattened fan. Scape compressed or subterete. Spike, raceme or corymb; lower spathe-valves foliaceous, bracteoles and upper bracts membranous; or flower solitary. Flowers blue, rarely white, clustered 3 or more within each pair of spathe-valves, sessile to distinctly pedicelled, fugacious; lobes only slightly joined at base, ± equal, spreading, twisting spirally after flowering. Style filiform, unbranched or occasionally with 3 very short flattened lobes. Capsule oblong or cylindrical, trigonous to triquetrous. Seeds many, globose or angled. Spp. c. 60 of tropical and S. Africa, Madagascar. Adventive sp.1.