Dioecious shrub, single- or (seldom) seveÂral-stemmed, ± erect, c. 1-3 m tall. Stems mostly much branched above, branches usually ± regular, paired, often ascending. Leaves deÂcussate, mostly pseudoverticillate; blades (7-) 10-35 X (1-) 1,5-3,5 mm, (narrowly) ob-lanceolate, elliptic to ± linear-lanceolate, mostly glabrous; petioles ± 0-1 mm long; stiÂpular sheath with 3-5 (-7,8) setae, the longest c. (0,5-)0,7-4,5(-5,6) mm. Flowers subsessile to shortly pedicellate (pedicels to 0,7 mm in ("male").), in clusters of many (very many: ("female")) at nodes, inflorescences dimorphic, in ("female") often quite contracted, dense, ± cylindrical infloresÂcence zones; corolla 4-merous, greenish yellow to pale yellow, occasionally purplish tinged outside, mostly glabrous. ("male"): tube (0,5-)0,7-l,2 mm long, funnel-shaped, lobes (l,2-)l,5-2,2(-2,7) X (0,4-)0,6-0,9(-l,l) mm; anthers 1-2 mm long; small rudimentary ovary with 4 minute calyx lobes. ("female"): tube 0,2-0,5 mm long, lobes 0,2-0,7 x 0,1-0,2 mm; style ± 0-1 mm long, stigmas 2, 3-7,5(-10) mm long; ovary c. 0,6-1 x 0.3-0,6 mm, with 4 sometimes unequal calyx lobes. Fruit mostly reddish brown, shiny; mericarps 1,5-2,7 x 0,7-1,2 mm, oblong, elliptic to ± obovate, glabrous or (seldom) ± sparsely shortly hairy, with 2 ± triangular calyx lobes c. (0,3-)0,5-l(-l,2) X 0,2-0,5 mm, one occasioÂnally longer than the other. Chromosome number. 2n=22. Reference: 1 The holotype, according to Verdcourt (op. cit.) in LISU, was not amongst LISU material sent to me on loan.
