Flora of North America species comparison

striate, without spines.

blade 6-12 × 7-14 cm, membranous to nearly leathery;

venation 7.

blade palmately veined, often palmately lobed.

axillary or terminal, fascicles, cymes, racemes, or panicles, flowers pedicillate.

unisexual, staminate and pistillate on different plants, never showy;

sepaloid bracteoles absent;

perianth hypogynous, segments distinct or fused, not showy, greenish white to white or cream, imbricate or valvate.

sepals usually 6, not spurred;

petals usually 6, sometimes absent, distinct or connate, ± concave, frequently minute;

nectaries absent;

stamens either opposite petals and equal in number, or numerous;

filaments distinct or united;

anthers dehiscing longitudinally [or transversely];

pistillodes sometimes present.

sepals obovate, 1.2-1.4 × 0.8-1 mm;

petals 4-angulate to deltate, 0.4-0.8 × 1-1.6 mm;

ovary to 0.8 mm.

sepals (4-)6, sometimes reduced to 1;

petals often 6 or reduced to 1, ± concave, usually minute;

nectaries absent;

staminodes frequently present;

pistils 1-6;

ovules 2, aborting to 1, amphitropous;

style often recurved;

stigma entire or lobed.

drupes, straight or horseshoe-shaped;

exocarp membranous;

mesocarp ± pulpy;

endocarp (stone) bony, often warty, ribbed.

not seen.

never stalked;

endosperm present or absent;

embryo usually curved.

, from thickened root.

and lianas [shrubs or trees], deciduous, woody at least at base, twining or clambering.

inflorescences not seen.

inflorescences to 13 cm;

bracts sessile or shortly petiolate, usually reniform, to 5 × 6 mm, grading to minute, membranous, glabrous to densely pilose.