Perennial herbs, usually hispid. Rosette leaves long-petiolate, entire; cauline leaves alternate or subopposite, usually sessile, often decurrent. Inflorescences terminal, of branched monochasial scorpioid cymes; bracts usually absent. Flowers nodding, pedicellate; sepals 5, scarcely connate basally, often elongating with age; corolla regular, 5-lobed, tubular below, more or less campanulate above point of insertion of stamens, with 5 lanceolate or linear papillose scales in throat, pubescent on outside, purplish, pink, white or yellowish; lobes usually short and reflexed; stamens usually included in corolla-tube, anthers oblong, subsessile; ovary deeply 4-lobed, 4-celled, style filiform, usually long-exserted, stigma capitate. Fruit splitting into 4 mericarps, sometimes fewer by abortion, leaving a flat gynobase; mericarps ovoid, usually obliquely keeled, rugose, base surrounded by a swollen, toothed, annular ring.
About 35 species, mostly in western Asia (particularly Turkey), also Europe and northern Africa; 2 species naturalised in Australia.
