Roots single or in pairs at nodes. Leaves: blade entire, veins 1[--3], nearly terete. Inflorescence usually of 2 flowers, 1 staminate, 1 pistillate. Flowers short-pedicellate. Staminate flowers: anthers 4-loculed. Pistillate flowers: pistils surrounded proximally by membranaceous envelope; stigma asymmetrically funnel-shaped. Fruits: convex margin minutely dentate; endocarp often coarsely papillose (visible after decay of outer fruit wall); stipe developing into podogyne (stalk supporting pistil).