Flora of North America species comparison

erect, equal;

twigs glabrous or sparsely hairy, hairs short, combretaceous.

persistent, opposite and decussate;

stipules absent;

petiole not differentiated proximally and no part of it persistent, nectar glands conspicuous;

blade fleshy-leathery, venation brochidodromous, apex obtuse, rounded, or retuse, surfaces often appearing glabrous, but with minute, scattered, salt-excreting glandular hairs, these sunken and similar in form to domatial glands;

with pit-domatia abaxially at junction of secondary and lower order veins, each containing a basal gland.

terminal and axillary, spikes or panicles;

bracteoles present.

(or spicate units of panicles), 2–13 cm.

sepals 1 mm;

stamens 1.5–2 mm;

style 1–2 mm.

inconspicuous, bisexual or staminate on different plants;

hypanthium shallowly cupulate, free portion 1.3–2.5 mm, densely pubescent abaxially;

sepals 5, green, triangular, pubescent abaxially;

petals 5, greenish white, orbiculate, 1–1.3 mm, apex rounded to obtuse, pubescent (especially marginally);

stamens 10, ± included;

nectary disc atop ovary, pubescent;

ovary somewhat flattened;

style straight, free from hypanthium, with well-developed pistillode in staminate flowers;

ovules 2.

greenish or gray-green [reddish green], 13–20 × 5–9 mm, pubescent [glabrous].

slightly flattened, oblong to obovoid, slightly ridged;

with 2 major ridges, those subtending bracteoles better developed than others and forming spongy wings;

hypanthium and calyx persistent.