Shrubby or herbaceous plants without stinging hairs. Stipules free, lateral. Leaves opposite (in ours).
Inflorescences of long pendent interrupted spikes; flowers in small unisexual clusters.Male flowers: stamens 4. Female flowers: periath tubular, constricted and 2-4-toothed at the apex. Worldwide: c. 80 species in the tropics and northern subtropics Zimbabwe: 1 taxon. |