Perennial herbs. Bulbs usually tunicated with few tightly packed scales which gradually become thin and scarious towards the outer side with 3-4 nut-l ike fleshy ones inside the bulb. Daughter bulbs are produced from inner scales. Foliage leaves verticillate, opposite or alternate, sessile lanceolate. Inflorescence a raceme or an umbel, often flower solitary. Flowers nodding, actinomorphic. Perianth campanulate or saucer-shaped. Tepals 6, in 2 whorls, each of outer whorl oblanceolate, obovate or elliptic, those of inner whorl often broader, gibbous, nectiferous at base, blunt. Nectaries at the base or slightly above the base of tepal. Stamens 6, epitepalous, anthers pseudobasifixed, dehiscence latrose. Ovules many, style longer than ovary, stigma trifid or trilobate. Capsule flat topped, 6-lobed or winged. Seeds many, broadly winged.