The corms of some species eaten by Native North American peoples. Fossil plant parts from the Paleocene and Oligocene. Inflorescence as a solitary flower or as whorled panicles, racemes or umbels. Fruit an achene. Seeds lacking endosperm.
Placentation is basal.
Leaves simple and linear, ovate or sagittate. Petiole has a flattened base. Stem is a scape.