Herbs, perennial, tufted; rootstock thick; hairs unbranched, sometimes glandular. Basal leaves rosulate, linear or spathulate, entire, pinnatifid or sinuate-dentate, often stalked with sheathing bases. Scapes 1-many-flowered, usually leafless. Flowers large, white or purple. Sepals erect, inner saccate at base. Petals spathulate, clawed, white or purplish. Stamens usually 6; anthers linear, oblong. Ovary linear, many-ovuled; style with bilobed, erect stigmas. Fruit a siliqua linear-oblong, compressed or much flattened; valves with distinct median vein; style very short; stigma 2-lobed. Seeds 1 - 2-seriate, compressed, winged.
Mostly in Central Asia; about 30 species, 5 in India.
