Perennial, tuberous herbs, tubers globose, depressed about 2-12 cm in diameter; leaves 3-partite; leaflets about 15, pedatisect or whorled, narrowly linear-lanceolate, long, filiform at tips; petiole very stout; peduncle mottled dark pink and red or brown; spathe deciduous, green, limbs about equalling the tube, broadly ovate or lanceolate, tip filiform, usually curved below; spadix usually included, appendage subsessile; flowers unisexual, many along with few neuters at the base; males numerous, stipitate, sessile, connate, aggregated in upper part of spadix; anthers 2-5, oblong or subglobose; female flowers densely crowded, usually below the males; ovary 1-celled, ovules 2 or more, basilar, orthotropous, style short or absent, stigma desciform; beries 1-few seeded, dark red; seeds albuminous.