Herbs erect. Stems thickened at nodes; outer vascular bundles in a ring, inner bundles scattered in 1 or 2 series. Prophylls present, caducous, forming a prominent, ringlike stipular scar at each node; main lateral veins all basal. Flowers bisexual, shortly pedicellate. Inflorescences lax, leaf-opposed racemes. Bracts ladlelike, ovate, adnate to rachis. Stamens 6; filaments free, thick, short; anthers erect, oblong, thecae introrse, parallel longitudinally dehiscent. Gynoecium 4-carpellate; ovary tuberculate; ovules 2, basal, only 1 developed; style fleshy. Fruit dry, densely glochidiate, indehiscent.
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