Perennial herbs. Bulbs formed of narrow fleshy imbricating scales; bulbils several, formed after dying of bulb, ovoid, covered with tunics. Stems very tall, leafy, erect, simple, glabrous. Basal leaves usually deciduous; cauline leaves simple, petiolate; leaf-blade ovate, or broadly cordate, apex acute or acuminate, margin entire, glabrous, veins reticulate or dichotomously reticulate. Inflorescences a terminal raceme, many-flowered; bracts persistent or caducous. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, tubular-funnelform, large, drooping, pedicillate. Tepals 6, white or pinkish with purplish or reddish veins, free, arranged in two whorls, inner broader than outer. Stamens 6, inserted at base of tepals; filaments flat, long; anthers large, dorsifixed. Ovary small, cylindrical, 3-loculed, ovules many per locule; style long, elongate; stigma slightly 3-lobed or capitate. Fruit a loculicidal capsule, erect. Seeds many, reddish brown, flattened, reniform, surrounded with narrow or broad membranous wing.

Three species from E Himalaya, E Asia, and SE Asia. One species native to Nepal. (Cardiocrinum giganteum)