Flora of New Zealand Series

Fls in congested cymes, perfect and protogynous to unisexual; ♂ and perfect fls with deeply 3-4-partite per., segs valvate, stamens 3-4, inflexed in bud. ♀ with tubular per., 3-4-lobed; ovary free, ovule solitary, erect; stigma penicillate. Achene invested by enlarged per. Annual or perennial herbs with alt., petiolate, entire lvs; stipules minute. Genus of some 10 spp. of temperate and tropical regions. The N.Z. sp. is apparently widespread elsewhere, but critical comparisons are necessary.