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Glabrous, monoecious annuals with lax or prostrate stems. Lvs cauline, ± oblong with broad bases; ochreae soon lacerate. ♂ fls in terminal or axillary, pedunculate clusters; pedicels filiform; perianth segments (5)-6, free, green; stamens 4-6. ♀ fls in sessile axillary fascicles; perianth segments (5)-6, connate below to form a triangular tube; styles 3; stigmas penicillate. Fr. a trigonous nut included in the hard accrescent perianth, the 3 outer segments of which are spine-tipped.
Monoecious herbs, probably annual. Male flowers with 5–6 tepals, free nearly to the base, spreading, subequal. Stamens 4–6. Female flowers urceolate, with an accrescent, ovoid tube; tepals 6, arranged in two series, the inner 3 accrescent and erect, the outer 3 accrescent, conjoined, and forming very hard, ± spreading spines at the tips. Styles 3, terminally dilated and fimbriate. Nut acutely trigonous, free within the hardened fruiting perianth.
Flowers unisexual, the male flowers pedicellate, in terminal and axillary pedunculate clusters, with the female flowers sessile in the axils below, or sometimes in compound inflorescences with suppressed leaves, male flowers above, female below.
Female flowers urceolate, with an accrescent ovoid tube; perianth segments 2-seriate, accrescent, the inner erect, the outer indurate in fruit with very hard ± spreading spines at the tips; styles 3, dilated and fimbriate at the tip.
Male flowers: perianth segments 5–6, subequal, free nearly to the base, spreading; stamens 4–6.
Nut acutely trigonous, free and included in the hardened fruiting perianth.
Stems erect or spreading, much branched, furrowed.
Rigid monoecious annual or perennial herbs.
Leaves alternate, petiolate.
Ocrea membranous, caducous.
