E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

General:
Perennial dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants) herb from a thick taproot and short, usually branched crown; stems erect, solitary to several, unbranched (below the inflorescence), 20-60 cm tall, smooth.

Leaves:
Basal leaf blades elliptic to egg-shaped, tapered at both ends, smooth, the blades 4-10 cm long, the stalks long; stem leaves alternate, usually 2-3, greatly reduced, becoming unstalked.

Flowers:
Inflorescence of numerous, unisexual flowers in a slender panicle; flower stalks jointed below midlength; perianths pale to deep red, the inner segments 3-4 mm long, entire, lacking grain-like swellings.

Fruits:
Achenes, smooth, about 1.5 mm long. vol4_3