Morphological characters and geographical distribution are the same as those of the family.

Source: [
• 11
]. 

Herbs with milky sap. Leaves sheathing at base; axillary scales present. Inflorescences branched [unbranched], projected above water. Flowers bilaterally symmetric, sessile; stamens 6--18--[50]; filaments distinct; anthers 2-locular; pistils 2--6[--9], sessile. Fruits: beak terminal [lateral], curved or straight. Seeds: endosperm absent; seed coat single or double. x = 8.

Source: [
• 12
]. 

Styles distinct.

Source: [
• 3
]. 

Aquatics

Source: [
• 3
]. 

Perianth-segments 1-3, white or coloured

Source: [
• 3
]. 

Scapes simple or bifid, with unilateral flowers

Source: [
• 3
]. 

Tuber globular to oval or more irregular in shape, usually grey to brown with very numerous roots from upper part Leaves usually with a long petiole and a distinct blade with a few parallel primary veins and numerous transverse secondary veins, but in some species, e.g. A. vallisnerioides, the leaf-blade is linear

Source: [
• 10
]. 

Inflorescence with spirally or unilaterally arranged flowers in a loose or dense simple or bifid spike; spathe present, but usually very early caducous

Source: [
• 10
]. 

Flowers with white, yellow, mauve or bluish-violet petal-like appendages (tepals), rarely with tepals lacking

Source: [
• 10
]. 

Ovaries green, blue or lilac

Source: [
• 10
]. 

Small to medium-sized perennial herbs growing in seasonally wet soil or submerged in temporary pools or similar habitats, rarely in permanent water; leaf-blades and flowers often floating on the surface of the water

Source: [
• 10
]. 

Stamens with yellowish or brown anthers often early turning blackish; connnective sometimes protruding into a conical appendage; pollen-grains monosulcate, borne in monads

Source: [
• 10
]. 

Follicles bottle-shaped with a distinct beak, containing 1–12 rounded to fusiform seeds, which are often prominendy longitudinally ribbed.

Source: [
• 10
].