A. RADCLIFFE-SMITH

A weak, flaccid annual herb up to 5. dm., but more commonly 3 dm, in height. Stems sparingly pubescent to subglabrous. Petiole 1-4 (-7) cm long, slender. Leaf-blade ovate to broadly ovate, 1.5-4 x 1-2.5 cm, rarely larger, subacute to shortly acuminate, cuneate or rounded, crenate-serrate, 3-nerved from the base, sparingly hirsute above and beneath. Stipules minute. Inflorescences all axillary, sessile, androgynous, congested, c. 1 cm long, with up to 6 ♀ bracts and a very short terminal ♂ portion, sometimes terminated by an allomorphic ♀ flower. ♀ bracts deeply 3-5-partite, the lobes linear, the median one accrescent to 5 mm long, the others shorter, acute or subacute, pubescent and glandular-hirsute, 2-3(-5)-flowered. Male flowers shortly pedicellate. Female flowers sessile; sepals lanceolate, 0.5 mm long, hyaline; ovary trilobulate-subglobose, l mm diam, tuberculate, pubescent; styles 1 mm long, pectinately laciniate. Allomorphic ♀ flowers crowned by two incompletely closed minutely denticulate puberulous bract-like whorls. Fruits trilobate, 2 mm diam, unevenly verruculose, pubescent. Seeds ovoid-subglobose, 1 mm long, ± smooth, greyish with a white hilum.

Fl. Per.: Sept.

Holotype: Specimen cultivated in Copenhagen Botanic Garden in 1806 from seed sent from China (C); photograph of holotype (K).

Distribution: Central & East Tropical Africa, N.E. Pakistan (E. of the Indus), Himalayas, Khasia, S.W. India, Sri Lanka, S.W. China, Java. Local; (2-) 4-8000'/(600 -) 1200-2400 m.