Smooth Devil'S-Claws

Description

Shrubs or small trees, densely branched, to 5 m.�Stems�velvety when young, glabrate later; branches ascending, unarmed.�Leaf blades�elliptic, 2-6 � 2-5 cm, base rounded, occasionally pubsecent along veins, apex rounded to slightly retuse.�Inflorescences:�staminate inflorescences compound cymose to corymbose, 2 cm diam.; pistillate densely compound cymose at anthesis, more open in age; branches divaricate or ascending; fruiting pedicel 0.5-2 cm.�Perianths:�perianth of staminate flowers green or white, urceolate, 2-4 mm; perianth of pistillate flowers greenish, often blushed with red, 3.5-4 mm, densely puberulent.�Fruits�clavate, 7-10 � 3-4 mm, sparsely puberulent between glandular ribs, glands appearing only along distal�1/3-1/2.