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Leaf blades 2–11(14) × 1.5–9(10) cm (in Flora Zambesiaca area), 3-partite, 3-fid or 3-lobed, rarely elobate or somewhat 5-partite, or with only 1 lateral lobe; lamina cuneate to rounded or truncate or shallowly cordate at the base, sparingly pubescent to subglabrous on upper surface, more evenly pubescent along the midribs and main nerves beneath; the lateral lobes forwardly directed, the median lobe broadly ovate to narrowly oblanceolate, obtuse to subacute or acute at the apex, sharply somewhat irregularly denticulate, the teeth often aristate, slightly glandular or not; the lobe midribs arising above the lamina base, the median lobe with c. 9 pairs lateral nerves, the lateral lobes with fewer lateral nerves.
Female flowers: pedicels 2.5–3 mm long, stout, dilated at the apex, sparingly pubescent; calyx tube very short, calyx lobes unequal, 3 or 4–6 × 0.8–1 or 1.5 mm, oblong-linear, acute, subentire, eglandular, pubescent without, glabrous within; petals 5 or 6–7 × 1 or 1.7 mm, free, narrowly oblong-oblanceolate, subacute, glabrous, creamy-yellow or whitish; disk 5-lobed, the lobes transversely ovate, rounded, flattened; ovary c. 2.5 × 2 mm, ellipsoid to 3-lobed, smooth, sparingly pubescent to subglabrous; styles c. 2 mm long, united for one-quarter of their length, erect, stigmas subcapitate, cylindric, verruculose.
Male flowers: pedicels c. 1 mm long, jointed, bracteolate, glabrous; calyx tube 1.5 mm long, with lobes 1.5 or 2 × 1 mm, triangular-lanceolate, acute, entire, glabrous; petals 3.5 or 7 × 1.5 or 2 mm, narrowly oblong-oblanceolate, rounded, glabrous, pale yellow to white; disk glands 5, free, 0.75 mm long, compressed-subcylindric, rounded-truncate; stamens 8, the 5 outer 6 mm long and fused for about one-quarter of their length, the 3 inner 7 mm long and fused for c. one-third of their length, filaments glabrous, anthers 1.75 mm long, oblong, thecae free at the base.
Fruits 1.1 × 1 cm, ellipsoid to 3-lobed, smooth, glabrescent or glabrous (Flora Zambesiaca area).Seeds (7.5)9–10 × (4.5)5–5.5 × 3.5–4 mm, including the caruncle, compressed ellipsoid-subcylindric, shiny, chestnut-brown or black; caruncle 2 × 4 mm, hemispherical, 2-lobed, the lobes strongly fimbiate, orange or brown when dry, with a buff or whitish fringe.
Inflorescences 4–8 cm long, terminal or subterminal, thyrsoid-subcorymbiform, peduncle up to 5 cm long; bracts variable, the lowest up to 1.5 cm long, linear, foliaceous, denticulate, the upper shorter, linear-subulate, chaffy, entire.
A semi-succulent perennial herb up to 60 cm tall; stems arising from a large woody tuberous rootstock, simple or sparingly branched, decumbent to erect, sparingly pubescent.
Stipules 2 mm long, usually simple, filiform-setaceous, eglandular, pinkish, soon falling, or absent.
Petioles up to 1 cm long, or leaves subsessile.
