"Herbs with non truncated corm, bearing leaf and inflorescence separately, each surrounded by different cataphylls; leaves usually solitary, basal, petiolate, with + or - cordate base; inflorescence a raceme; bracts and bracteoles sometimes absent; tepals blue; stamens 6, equal; pollen non operculate; ovary semiinferior, with sunken style; ovules 2 per carpel; seeds large, ovoid, yellow to brown, deeply pitted with 'chalazosperm'. Three spp., topical Africa." "The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants" edited by Kubitzki Arnold