Herbs perennial, monoecious or dioecious, 20-50 cm tall. Stems ascending or erect, branched or simple, glabrous. Leaves alternate; nanophylls absent; stipules narrowly triangular to subulate, 2.5-5 × 0.2-0.5 mm, glabrous, without cystoliths; petiole 0-2 mm; leaf blade obliquely oblong, 6-16 × 1.5-4.5 cm, herbaceous or papery, major basal lateral veins absent and venation pinnate, both surfaces glabrous, or adaxial surface sparsely strigillose; cystoliths conspicuous, dense; base with broader half rounded, margin dentate, apex acuminate. Male inflorescences in pairs or solitary, branched, 5-15 mm in diam.; peduncle 0.5-3 mm; receptacle absent; bracts alternate, ovate to linear, 2-3 mm. Female inflorescences in pairs or solitary, 3-9 mm in diam.; peduncle ca. 1 mm; receptacle obscure; bracts lanceolate to linear; bracteoles lanceolate. Male flowers 5-merous. Achenes ellipsoid or ovoid, 8-ribbed. Fl. Apr-Aug.