H.B.K., Nov. Gen. & Sp. 2:176.1817
Slender, functionally monoecious shrub or tree, 2-8 m tall;stems glabrous to puberulent, with sparse round lenticels; ocreaeto 1 cm long. Petioles from base of ocrea, 4-15 mm long; bladesmostly oblong-lanceolate or oblong-elliptic, acuminate, cuneate tonearly rounded at base, mostly 6-18 (22) cm long, 2-5 (8) cm wide,glabrous above, glabrous to weakly pubescent on midrib and veinsbelow, the vein axils tufted, the midrib arched.Inflorescences terminal, spicate, slender, mostly 15-25 cmlong; rachis ridged, swollen at each flower cluster; staminateflowers red, ca 2 mm long, appearing successively from the apex ofa very short, stout, bracteated stalk; perianth lobes 5, ovate,imbricate, 6-8 mm long, fleshy, accrescent, reddish turning whiteat maturity; stamens 8 (9), included, the filaments fused into atube ca half their length; anthers blocking entrance tononfunctional ovary. Pistillate flowers usually borne singlyat each nodule of rachis; ovary 3-sided; styles 3, short, heldsomewhat below anthers; nectar stored within staminal tube. Fruitssubglobose, 6-8 mm wide, the achene strongly 3-sided, shiny blackor brown, enveloped by 3 of the 5 perianth lobes and contrastingsharply with them in color, protruding at maturity. Croat15101.
Common along some areas of the shore. Flowers and fruitsthroughout the year.
Panama to Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil. In Panama, known fromtropical moist forest in the Canal Zone, Panama, and Darien andfrom tropical wet forest in Darien.
