Perennial, erect, branched, dioecious, undershrubs, 1-1.5 m high; leaves with petioles 3-7 cm long, broadly ovate or subrobicular, obtuse or acute at apex, cordate or subcordate at base, crenate, serrate or coarsely toothed, pubescent, uniformly green, palmatly nerved at base; spikes 5-20 cm long, axillary, androgynous; male flowers in terminal, minute heads, concealed by the upper bract; flowers in axil of hispid, many toothed bracts, often bordered with gland tipped hairs; disc absent; stamens 8 on a convex receptacle, filaments free, anther cells divaricate; female flowers in bright red, up to 25 cm long, pendulous spikes; ovary 3-celled, styles filiform, often very long, fibriate or laciniate; capsule of 3 minute, 2-valved, crustaceous cocci; seeds subglobose, minute.