Herbs or subshrubs, to 1.5 m. Roots thickened. Stems decumbent to ascending (often growing through associated vegetation), terete when young; nodes not swollen; leaf and stipule scars not elevated. Leaves: stipules lanceolate, entire; petiole 1–7 cm; blade peltate, 3–5-lobed, lobes with rounded secondary lobes distal to middle or with 2 pairs of rounded secondary lobes of nearly equal width proximal and distal to middle, median lobe 2–7 cm, margins neither thickened nor revolute, entire, apex cuspidate, surfaces glabrous, abaxial smooth. Inflorescences axillary, subspicate racemes, 5–10 cm. Pedicels: staminate 1–3 mm; pistillate 15 mm in fruit, downcurved. Staminate flowers: calyx tubular, base gibbous, midsection constricted, 10–20 mm, lobes erect or spreading; stamens 6–8. Capsules 1 cm, verrucose-rugose, not winged. Seeds globose, 8–9 mm.
Home