Monoecious; fls minute, in small axillary cymules; cal 4-6-lobed; pet none; staminate fls with mostly 3-5 stamens, an evident extrastaminal disk, and reduced or no pistil; ovary globose, the 3 short styles ±bifid; seeds 2 per locule, without a caruncle; herbs or shrubs with numerous simple, alternate, entire, stipulate lvs. 750, mainly tropical.

Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

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