Shrubs, 5–35 dm, monoecious. Stems usually well branched distally, lepidote. Leaves clustered at branch tips; stipules absent; petiole 0.6–2 cm, glands absent at apex; blade elliptic, ovate, or oblong, 3–10 × 1.5–5 cm, base rounded to obtuse, margins entire, sometimes ± undulate, apex acute, rounded, or emarginate, abaxial surface silvery or coppery, densely lepidote, adaxial surface green, sparsely lepidote. Inflorescences bisexual or unisexual, racemes, 2–4.5 cm, staminate flowers 0–15, pistillate flowers 0–10. Pedicels: staminate 2.2–4 mm, pistillate 2.2–7.5 mm (7–11 mm in fruit). Staminate flowers: sepals 5, 1.1–2.9 mm, abaxial surface lepidote; petals 5, oblong-ovate, 2–3.1 mm, abaxial surface glabrous except margins stellate-ciliate; stamens 10–22. Pistillate flowers: sepals 5, equal, 2–4.5 mm, margins entire, apex incurved, abaxial surface lepidote; petals 5, pale green, ovate, 2–3.5 mm; ovary 3-locular; styles 3, 2–5 mm, usually unbranched, rarely 2-fid, terminal segments 3 (or 6). Capsules 1.6–2.5 × 2–3 mm, smooth; columella 3-angled. Seeds 6.7–8 × 5.2–6 mm, shiny.
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