herbaceous, annual; stem rather copiously branched from the base, up to 1 ft. high, somewhat sulcate; leaves membranous, long-petioled, ovate, obtuse or subacute, base more or less rounded, margin crenate, 1/2–1 1/2 in. long, 1/3–1 in. wide, very sparingly pubescent on the nerves beneath, otherwise glabrous; petiole 1/2–1 1/2 in. long, puberulous; stipules subulate, 1/8 in. long, caducous; inflorescence 2-sexual, axillary; spikes usually solitary, short, about 3/4 in. long, with 2–4 rather remote female flowers below and rather few male flowers above, with usually a solitary densely muricate abortive female flower at the apex; rhachis puberulous; male bracts very minute; male buds faintly puberulous; female bracts 2-flowered, leafy, ovate, acuminate, base subcordate, margin crenate, 1/2 in. long, if explanate 2/3 in. wide, sparingly setulose on the margin and nerves externally, sometimes with a few glandular hairs intermixed; sepals 3, ovate, small, sparingly ciliate; ovary rather distinctly 3-lobed, sparingly beset with tubercle-based hairs; styles 3, free from the base, slender, laciniate; seeds ovoid, minutely and closely pitted. null
