dioecious herbs, tubers variable in shape, colour, and depth in ground. Axillary bulbils present or absent. Leaves mostly alternate, sometimesopposite, petiolate, simple or palmately compound, with 3-7 leaflets, nervespalmate in simple leaves and pinnate in leaflets. Male inflorescence: axillary,spicate, racemose or rarely cymose, flowers small, green or rosaceous orwhitish, stamens 6, sometimes inner 3 forming staminodes. Female inflorescence:axillary, spicate, 3.5-10.0 cm long, few flowered, staminodes present or absent. Fruit a capsule, 3-winged, dehiscent. Seeds with a membranous wing.