Herbs, perennial, with spreading rootstock. Stems erect, usually unbranched, occasionally few branched distally, solitary or few, previous year's dead stems not persistent, 30–65 cm, usually glabrous, rarely villous. Leaves alternate; stipules 1 mm; petiole (0–)1–2(–10) mm, glabrous or densely villous; blade lanceolate, lance-ovate, elliptic, or obovate, 40–68 × 6–18 mm, often reflexed, base cuneate to rounded, margins entire, apex usually rounded, sometimes broadly acute, abaxial surface glabrous or villous, adaxial surface usually glabrous, rarely sparsely villous; venation occasionally obscure on small leaves, midvein conspicuous. Cyathia in terminal pleiochasia; peduncle 1–5 mm (or 15–40 mm on early flowering individuals), usually glabrous, occasionally sparsely villous. Involucre campanulate or hemispheric, 1.3–1.7 × 1.8–2.2 mm, glabrous or villous; glands 5 (7–10 on central cyathium), green, reniform or broadly elliptic, 0.3–0.5 × 0.5–0.8 mm; appendages white, orbiculate or narrowly flabellate, 1–2.2 × 1.5 mm, entire. Staminate flowers 20–25. Pistillate flowers: ovary glabrous or sparsely villous; styles 0.6–1.1 mm, 2-fid 1/2 length. Capsules globose, 2–2.4 × 3.3–4.8 mm, glabrous or sparsely villous; columella 1.8–2.1 mm. Seeds light gray, ovoid, 2.2–2.4 × 1.6–1.8 mm, with shallow depressions; caruncle absent.
Home