Flora of North America species comparison

20–60 cm.

basal 1–2 per node on rhizomes;

petiole 8–22 cm;

blade (of larger leaves) ovate to suborbiculate, 20–75 × 15–70 mm, longer than to ca. as long as wide, base rounded to subcordate, apex obtuse;

cauline on proximal 1/2 of stem or absent.

alternate, subopposite, opposite, whorled, or fascicled, simple;

stipules absent or present;

petiole present or absent;

blade margins serrate, dentate, spiny, or entire;

venation pinnate, palmate, or 1-veined, sometimes obscure.

unisexual or bisexual, terminal or axillary, cymes, racemes, panicles, thyrses, or fascicles, or flowers solitary.

sepals reflexed in fruit, oblong to oblong-elliptic, 3.5–5 mm, margins hyaline, 0.2 mm wide, entire, apex obtuse;

petals 7–12-veined, broadly ovate, 14–20 × 9–12 mm, length 3–4 times sepals, base rounded, margins entire or undulate;

stamens 7–11 mm;

anthers 1.8–3 mm;

staminodes 3-fid almost to base, gland-tipped, 9–14 mm, longer than stamens, apical glands lanceolate, 1–1.7 mm;

ovary white.

bisexual or unisexual, radially symmetric or weakly asymmetric;

perianth and androecium hypogynous or perigynous;

hypanthium free, completely adnate to ovary, or absent;

sepals (3–)4–5[–7], distinct or connate proximally;

petals 0 or (3–)4–5[–7], distinct;

nectary present, rudimentary, or absent;

stamens 3–5[–10], distinct, free or adnate to nectary;

anthers dehiscing by longitudinal slits;

staminodes 0 or [4–]5[–7];

pistil 1, 1–5-carpellate, ovary superior often embedded in nectary to 1/2 inferior, 1–5-locular, placentation axile or parietal;

ovules 1–2[–4] or 100–2000+ per locule, anatropous;

styles 0, 1, or 3, connate proximally;

stigmas 2–5.

capsules, dehiscence loculicidal, drupes, or nutlike (small, hard-walled, indehiscent, 1-locular, and 1-seeded) [berries or samaras].

10–15 mm.

1, 2, 40–70, or 100–2000+ per locule, often winged or covered by brightly colored pulpy aril.