Manual of the New Zealand Flora.

3. Elatostema, Forst

3. Elatostema, Forst.

Herbs, sometimes woody at the base, Leaves distichous, alternate, or if opposite one of each pair much smaller than the other, sessile or nearly so, oblique and unequal-sided; stipules lateral or intrapetiolar. Flowers very minute, densely crowded in axillary sessile or peduncled unisexual usually involucrate receptacles; involucral bracts broadly oblong or ovate, nearly free or confluent below. Male flowers: Perianth 4–5-partite; segments membranous or hyaline, often spurred or tubercled on the back. Stamens 4–5, inflexed in bud. Rudimentary ovary minute. Female flowers: Perianth of 3–5 very minute segments or altogether wanting. Stamens imperfect. Ovary straight; stigma sessile, penicillate; ovule erect. Achene minute, compressed, ovoid or ellipsoid, smooth or rarely ribbed. Seed erect; albumen usually wanting; cotyledons ovate.

About 50 species are known, for the most part natives of tropical Asia and Africa, but the genus extends northwards to Japan, and southwards to New Zealand.