Flora of North America species comparison

erect, branched, stout, usually 1–3 m. Leaves: petiole 1/2 length of blade;

blade lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate to linear, to 20 × 4 cm, base narrowly cuneate, margins entire, plane to slightly undulate, apex acute to acuminate.

of pistillate flowers 1.5 mm; of staminate flowers with midribs not prominent, scarcely excurrent, shorter than 1 mm.

mostly terminal, narrow spikes or thyrses, usually interrupted, linear.

tepals 5, without prominent midribs, equal, 2.5–3 mm, apex obtuse to indistinctly mucronulate in outer tepals;

stamens 3–5.

tepals absent or 1–2 and rudimentary;

style branches ± erect;

stigmas 3–5.

reddish brown to dark brown, 2–3 mm diam., shiny.

often black, with 3(–5) longitudinal ridges corresponding to 3–5 style branches, ovoid or obovoid, 2.5–4 mm (exceeding tepals, when present), somewhat fleshy, smooth (slightly rugose, especially in herbarium specimens).