Shrubs, monoecious (often apparently dioecious), 5–10 dm. Stems sparsely branched, branches ascending, longest leafy branchlets to 30(–55) cm. Leaves: petiole 0–1 mm; blade elliptic or obovate to orbiculate, 7–25 × 6–20 mm, base cuneate to cordate, apex acute to rounded or mucronate, abaxial surface glabrous or pilose, adaxial surface glabrous or midvein pilose; secondary vein pairs 4–7, clearly visible. Inflorescences: staminate flowers solitary or 2(–4) per fascicle; pistillate flowers usually solitary, rarely 2 per fascicle. Staminate flowers: sepals elliptic or oblong to obovate, 1.2–2.5 mm; petals 1–2 mm; nectary 5-, 10-, or irregularly crenate; pistillode glabrous. Pistillate flowers: sepals elliptic to obovate, 1.5–3 mm; petals 0.4–0.8 mm; nectary 10-crenate; pistil 3-carpellate. Capsules subglobose, 3.6–6.5 mm diam., shallowly 3-lobed; columella 2.5–3 mm. Seeds orange to brown, sometimes mottled, 1.8–3.5 mm; caruncle usually absent, sometimes present, white to pale orange, 0.5 mm diam. 2n = 26.
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