Flora of North America species comparison

stipules 2–3 cm, connate, leaving conspicuous scar around stem;

petiole 10–55 cm, with (0–)1–3 cuplike glands on proximal adaxial surface, 2 glands at apex adaxially;

blade circular in outline, 15–50 cm diam., base peltate, marginal teeth gland-tipped, laminar glands scattered on adaxial surface, lobes 7–12, lanceolate or oblanceolate, increasing in size apically, apex narrowly acute to acuminate.

deciduous, alternate, simple;

stipules present, caducous;

petiole present, glands present at apex and usually proximally;

blade palmately lobed, margins serrate, laminar glands present;

venation palmate.

6–30 cm, to 45 cm in fruit;

bracts caducous except for 2 persistent glands.

bisexual (staminate flowers proximal, pistillate distal) or pistillate, terminal or leaf-opposed, racemelike thyrses;

glands subtending each bract 2.

staminate 5–15 mm; pistillate 0.5–5 mm, elongating to 40 mm in fruit.

present.

calyx lobes ovate, 7–8 mm;

stamen cluster ± spheric, 10–12 mm diam.

sepals 3–5, valvate, connate basally;

petals 0;

nectary absent;

stamens to 1000, connate proximally in numerous slender, irregularly branched columns;

pistillode absent.

sepals ovate, 4–5 mm;

ovary densely covered in slender-conic, bristle-tipped outgrowths;

styles red or orange-red, 4–5 mm;

stigmas distinctly spreading, papillose.

sepals 5, distinct or connate basally;

petals 0;

nectary absent;

pistil 3-carpellate;

styles 3, distinct or slightly connate basally, 2-fid.

capsules.

dark red, echinate, subglobose, 1.5–2 cm diam.

mottled brown, 8–11 mm, shiny.

ovoid or ovoid-ellipsoid;

caruncle present.

= 10.

= 20.