Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Annual herbs.

Stems: Stems erect to prostrate, branched above and below, pubescent with glandular or multicellular hairs.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Margins entire or sinuate. Petiolate. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in terminal or axillary, bracteate cymes or spike-like inflorescences. Flowers unisexual, plants dioecious or monoecious. Each flower subtended by 2 conspicuous red, green, or purple bracteoles. Calyx of (2)3–5 sepals, sepals membranous, distinct or connate at base, glabrous. Corolla (petals) absent. Stamens (2)3–5, distinct; anthers dithecal. Ovary superior, 2–3(4)-carpellate, the carpels connate to form a compound, 1-celled ovary; ovule placentation basal, free-central, or rarely apical; style 1, often lobed; stigmas 2–3.

Fruit: Utricles with circumscissile or irregularly dehiscient; or indehiscent; 2–3 beaked at apex. Seeds 1 per fruit; the surface usually lustrous; endosperm essentially absent; usually black; lenticular; smooth and lustrous.

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range: