Herbs or shrubs,-the indumentum of stellate and simple hairs. Leaves long-petiolate, the stipules deciduous, the blade 3-to sub-5-palmatilobate, deeply cor-date, the margins coarsely crenate-serrate. Flowers axillary, solitary, long-pedicel- late; epicalyx wanting; calyx 5-merous, campanulate, lobed to below the middle, persistent and reflexed in fruit; petals 5, adnate to the base of the staminal tube; staminal tube ventricose, filamentiferous at the apex, the filaments numerous, the anthers hippocrepiform; ovary 9-to 12-carpellate, each carpel 2-or 3-ovulate; styles isomerous with the carpels, the stigmas capitate. Fruits subglobose to trans-versely ellipsoid, of 9-12 1-celled mericarps, these rounded and muticous at the apex, with 2 stout, basal and dorsal, deflexed awns, ultimately separating from the central axis but remaining attached thereto by subapical ligaments, bivalvate, 2-or 3-seeded; seeds cordiform-subglobose, muricate.
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