Herbs or shrubs, monoecious, terrestrial; with taproot [stolons]. Rhizomes absent. Stems erect [creeping], 4-ribbed [smooth], scabrous to sparsely pubescent [glabrous]. Turions absent. Leaves opposite [proximally opposite, distally alternate], homomorphic; petiolate [sessile]; blade unlobed [pinnatifid], margins serrate [entire], surfaces glabrous or scabrous. Inflorescences dichasia, compound, 3- or 4[–7]-flowered, in axils of alternate bracts, bracts foliagelike proximally, highly reduced distally; bracteoles paired, opposite subtending bracts; flowers bisexual. Flowers [2–]4-merous; petals caducous; stamens 8; ovary 2- or 4-locular. Fruit a nutlet, silver-gray to dark green or red, 4-lobed to 4-angled, ridges often with wingsand/or with protuberances opposite sepals or throughout, or tuberculate between ridges or wings, surfaces smooth to rugose, septa solid, endocarp woody, exocarp membranous or spongy. x = 7.

Distribution

Introduced; California, Pacific Islands (New Zealand), Australia.

Discussion

Species ca. 28 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Haloragis erecta