A glabrous, branched, suberect, terrestrial herb; stemn 3-4 mm. thick when dry, 15-30 cm. or more tall, internodes 2-3 cm. long above, much longer downward, drying ridged-sulcate; leaves commonly opposite, less frequently ternate, lance-elliptic, occasional leaves oblanceolate or suboblong, apex attenuately sharp-acuminate, base acute-decurrent, 2-3 cm. wide X 6-10 cm. long, palmately 5-to 7-nerved, drying coriaceous, glandular-dotted, opaque; petiole 5-10 mm. long, grooved above, stout; spikes terminal and axillary, commonly multiple, 2 mm. thick X 6-8 cm. long, densely flowered; peduncle mostly 1-2 cm. long; bracts ovate-oblong-peltate, contiguous or overlapping; fruit globose-ovoid, pointed, stigma apical.
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