A glabrous shrub or small tree, up to 5 m. tall; flowering internodes slender and moderately elongated; leaves ovate with the midrib commonly somewhat nearer one side, 8-23 cm. wide X 16-30 cm. long, or some leaves may be slightly smaller, apex abruptly acuminate, base nearly equilaterally rounded, the upper acute or subacute, the larger lower leaves obtuse to subcordulate, or occasionally cordate, pinnately nerved to the upper one-third or essentially throughout, the nerves 6-8 or 10 on each side, with shorter intermediates, commonly yellow and prominent beneath, the lowermost 2 or 3 pairs more or less approximated at the base, drying chartaceous, somewhat glossy, translucent; petiole 10-30 mm. long, the longer vaginate to or beyond the middle; spikes 4-5 mm. thick and up to 15 cm. long; peduncle rather stout, 5-10 mm. long; bracts rounded-subpeltate, umbonate, smooth above, villous beneath; fruit small, obpyramidal-trigonous, apex somewhat dome-shaped; stigmas 3, sessile.
Home