Herbs with rhizome, glabrous or pubescent. Stems simple bearing an inflorescence and a single subtending leaf. Other leaves arising direct from the rhizome. Petiole sometimes very long (up to 5 m.); leaf-blade elliptic, scarcely asymmetric. Inflorescence terminal, branched, the branches spike-like, jointed with many internodes and a two-flowered cymule at each node, subtended by a sheathing bract enclosing the cymule and the part of the inflorescence above it; bract deciduous at the time of flowering; each cymule backed by a two-keeled prophyll; mesophylls absent. Cymule pedunculate with the flowers side by side with one fleshy bracteole between them. Outer staminodes 2 or 1, narrowly lanceolate, linear or subulate; the hooded staminode with a spur-like appendage. Ovary 3-locular, glabrous or pubescent. Fruit fleshy, indehiscent but with 3 conspicuous sutures. Seed with an aril.