Herbs, perennial, to 0.5 m, monoecious, with ± fleshy subterranean caudex to 11 cm diam., stem and root scars round. Stems erect, green, usually sparsely branched, herbaceous, somewhat succulent, glabrous; short shoots absent; latex watery, colorless. Leaves ± evenly distributed on long shoots; stipules persistent, 4–10 mm, filiform-divided; petiole 4.8–10.5(–13.5) cm, not stipitate-glandular; blade cordate in outline, 11–16 × 9.3–11.2 cm, (3–)5–7(–9)-lobed to middle, base cordate, margins coarsely dentate, apex acuminate, membranous, abaxial surface glabrous, adaxial glabrous, except puberulent on veins, margins sometimes puberulent or with setae; venation palmate. Inflorescences bisexual, terminal and subterminal, cymes; peduncle 1.5–4.5 cm; bracts (6–)8–16 mm, margins serrate, glabrous. Pedicels 2.5–4 mm. Staminate flowers: sepals distinct or connate to 1/2 length, lanceolate, 5–7 × 1–2 mm, margins deeply divided, apex acuminate, surfaces glabrous; corolla light pink, often with white striations, rotate, petals distinct or connate 1/4 length, 8–11.5 × 2.5–4.5 mm, surfaces glabrous; stamens 8(–9) in 2 whorls (5 + 3); filaments of outer whorl distinct, of inner whorl connate to 1/2 length, outer whorl 3.5–6 mm, inner whorl 4.5–9 mm. Pistillate flowers resembling staminate, but slightly larger; carpels 3; styles distinct or connate only at base, 3.5–4 mm. Capsules ± spheric, 1.2–1.3 × 1.2–1.3 cm, distinctly 3-lobed, explosively dehiscent. Seeds pale gray, ellipsoidal, 8–9 × 6–6.5 mm; caruncle prominent. 2n = 22.
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