Stems erect, branched, stout, usually 1-3 m. Leaves: petiole 1/2 length of blade; blade lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate to linear, to 20 × 4 cm, base narrowly cuneate, margins entire, plane to slightly undulate, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescences mostly terminal, narrow spikes or thyrses, usually interrupted, linear. Bracts: of pistillate flowers 1.5 mm; of staminate flowers with midribs not prominent, scarcely excurrent, shorter than 1 mm. Pistillate flowers: tepals absent or 1-2 and rudimentary; style branches ± erect; stigmas 3-5. Staminate flowers: tepals 5, without prominent midribs, equal, 2.5-3 mm, apex obtuse to indistinctly mucronulate in outer tepals; stamens 3-5. Utricles often black, with 3(-5) longitudinal ridges corresponding to 3-5 style branches, ovoid or obovoid, 2.5-4 mm (exceeding tepals, when present), somewhat fleshy, smooth (slightly rugose, especially in herbarium specimens). Seeds reddish brown to dark brown, 2-3 mm diam., shiny.
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