A ± evenly to densely tomentose or pubescent perennial herb or subshrub up to 2 m. in height, but more commonly ± 1 m. tall, arising from an underground rhizome ± 3 cm. diameter, which exudes a blood-red sap when cut.. Bark grey, papery.. Leaves long-petiolate; leaf-blade consistently 5-palmatipartite or pedatipartite, the median lobe obovate or oblanceolate, 5–10 cm. long, 2–4 cm. wide, the laterals progressively smaller, acute, often appreciably attenuate towards the base, coarsely dentate, rarely subentire, sometimes somewhat lobulate, broadly cordate, with 10–14 pairs of lateral nerves per lobe; petiole 4–11 cm. long.. Stipules bipartite or multifid, 5–7 mm. long, the segments setaceous, gland-tipped, pubescent below, glabrous above.. Inflorescences leaf-opposed, up to 25 cm. long; bracts linear-lanceolate, 5–10 mm. long, acute, the margin beset with long-stipitate glands.. Male flowers: calyx-lobes ovate to ovate-oblong, 1.5 mm. long, 1 mm. wide, rounded, entire or with one or more glands at the apex, glabrous or pubescent; petals obovate-spathulate, ± free, 4 mm. long, 2 mm. wide, rounded, pubescent within at the base, otherwise glabrous, pale green or yellowish; disc-glands free, erect, flattened and scale-like, truncate; stamens 8, the 5 outer united for half their length, with the filaments 2.5 mm. long, the 3 inner almost completely fused together, and with the filaments 3 mm. long, anthers ovoid, 0.5 mm. long, bright yellow.. Female flowers: calyx-lobes lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 4–5 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide, acute or subacute, the margins beset with stalked glands, puberulous or pubescent; petals oblanceolate-oblong, otherwise ± as in ♂; disc 5-lobed, the lobes somewhat flattened, truncate; ovary subglobose-trilobed, 1.7–2 mm. long, 2 mm. diameter, glabrous; styles almost free to the base, 1.5 mm. long, ± erect, stigmas capitate, bilobed.. Fruit subglobose-trilobed, 1–1.1(–1.6) cm. long, 0.9–1(–1.4) cm. diameter, dehiscing septicidally.. Seeds oblong, 9 mm. long, 4.5 mm. wide, pale grey, shiny, with a patelliform, fimbriate caruncle completely capping the hilar end.
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