Perennial herb or subshrub to 2(–3) m. high, woody at the base, little branched, bark greyish brown, young branchlets pubescent.. Leaves not or rarely reduced in size towards the tip of branches; stipules ovate, long-acuminate, brown, 5–8 mm. long, ciliate; petioles 1–5.5 cm. long, pubescent, occasionally with long stiff hairs; lamina ovate to lanceolate, 4–11 cm. long, 2–4 cm. wide, base unequal, cuneate, margin entire, apex long-acuminate to caudate; lateral nerves 2–3 pairs, basal pair reaching 1/2–2/3 towards the tip of lamina; upper surface with scattered stiff hairs and punctiform cystoliths, lower surface with scattered stiff hairs on the nerves, sometimes with arachnoid indumentum between the nerves.. Inflorescences bisexual, many-flowered, usually with more than 5 ♀ flowers and a similar number of ♂ ones.. Male flowers on pedicels ± 0.5 mm. long; perianth globular, 4-merous, pubescent, without hooked hairs.. Female flowers sessile; perianth 1–1.5 mm. long, with 3–4 poorly marked teeth at the opening, with 6–10 rather indistinct nerves, glabrous, rarely puberulous towards apex; ovary enclosed; stigma protruding, straight or slightly curved, ± 2 mm. long.. Achene slightly compressed, white, brown or black, shiny, 1.5–2 mm. long, enclosed in the persistent perianth.
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