Flora of North America species comparison

blade green abaxially, bright to olive green adaxially, flat to concave-convex, ovate-elliptic or obovate-elliptic to suborbiculate, 1–5(–6.5) × 0.9–3.3 cm, length 1.3–2.3 times width, margins flat, smooth, apex rounded to obtuse, abaxial surface densely strigose-sericeous, hairs antrorsely appressed, adaxial surface glossy, glabrous.

opposite (decussate), simple;

stipules absent;

petiole present, basally connate with that of opposite leaf;

blade margins entire, serrate, or dentate;

venation pinnate.

unisexual, axillary aments or terminal panicles.

unisexual;

perianth epigynous;

hypanthium absent (staminate flowers), completely adnate to ovary (pistillate flowers);

sepals 2, 4, or rudimentary, distinct or connate proximally;

petals 0 or 4, distinct;

nectary absent or present, intrastaminal, sometimes rudimentary;

stamens 4, distinct, free;

anthers dehiscing by longitudinal slits;

pistil 1, 1-carpellate, ovary inferior, 1-locular, placentation apical;

ovules 1–2 per locule, anatropous;

styles 1–2(–3), distinct;

stigmas 1–2(–3).

drupes or berries.

4–6 mm diam., glabrous or sparsely strigose near apex, not glaucous.

1–2 per fruit.

staminate 5–7 cm; pistillate compact, internodes to 1 mm, unbranched, pendulous, 3–9 cm; pistillate bracts connate proximally into deep cup, at least at proximal nodes each subtending 3 flowers, triangular to oblong-acuminate, differing in size and shape from leaves, strigose-sericeous.