Monoecious herbs, usually in marshy places. Indumentum simple. Leaves alternate, simple, serrate. Inflorescences axillary, spicate or racemose, pedunculate, female flowers below, male above. Male flowers: calyx closed in bud, splitting into 5 valvate lobes; petals 5; disk 0; stamens 10, partially fused into a column with pistillode at apex. Female flowers: sepals 5-10, accrescent; petals 5-6; ovary 3-locular; styles 3, deeply laciniate. Fruits 3-lobed, hispid or echinate, dehiscent. Worldwide: 40 species in tropical America, Africa and Madagascar Zambia: 2 taxa. |
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