The World Flora Online

Predominant in the Cerrado vegetation of Brazil, extending into Bolivia and Paraguay. Flowers mostly in leafless condition from May to September.

Low suffrutex, annual shoots 0.5-2.0(-2.5) m high, arising from a geotropic, water storing trunk up to 1.4 m deep (the xylopodium); young branches dark brown, becoming pale. Leaves 3-5(-7)-lobed, 3.5-9.0 x 5.5-14 cm, base cordate with lateral lobes overlapping, lobes elliptic-ovate, obtuse or acute, minutely to strongly serrate, basally connate for 10-20% of their length, plicate above the midrib, outer lobes considerably shorter than the central ones; upper surface glabrous, rarely pubescent, lower surface glabrous, or pubescent throughout or only on the principal nerves; petiole 5-10 cm long, glabrous; stipules filiform, ca. 1 cm long. Few flowered panicles or racemes either terminating the already defoliated annual shoot, or, after the destruction of the upper parts by fire or other means, appearing from the subterranean trunk at ground level; floral bracts narrowly triangular to lanceolate, 2-3 × 6-12 mm. Flowers 7-9 cm in diameter. Sepals pubescent outside and fine strigose within, outer sepals 12-14 × 7-9 mm, inner sepals ca. 15 x 13 mm wide. Petals ovate-subquadrate, apically emarginate for ca. 3 mm. Filaments 5-25 mm long, yellow; anthers 4-5 mm long, curved, with one roundish-subquadrate apical pore 0.2 mm wide, and two smaller basal pores. Ovary 3-4(-5)-carpellate, 2-3 mm in diam., style incurved, ca. 15 mm long. Capsule mostly pendent, usually one per ramification, ovate in outline, acute, truncate, 4-6 × 2.5-3.0 cm; stalk glabrous, 2.4-4.0 cm × 1.5 mm; outer valve pubescent to glabrous, blackish-grey to chestnut; placentae straight or only slightly incurved, thin and fragile; inner valve elliptic, fragile, translucent, ebony. Seeds reniform with narrow sinus to subcochleate, ca 5.0-6.3 × 4.0-5.3 mm, outer layer of seed coat adhering or fragile and easily removable, seed hairs white.

Raiz: parte subterranea(s) espesada(s). Hoja: lámina(s) simples palmatilobada(s); ápice(s) agudo(s) o obtuso(s). Inflorescencia: tipo paniculada(s)/racimosa(s). Flor: diam. (cm) 8 a(s) 12; poro(s) apical(es) de las antera(s) 1. Fruto: cápsula(s) péndula(s); cápsula(s) 3 a(s) 5 valvar(es). Root: part subterranean thickened. Leaf: blade simple palmatilobed; apex acute or obtuse. Inflorescence: type paniculate/racemose. Flower: diam. (cm) 8 to 12; pore apical of the anther 1. Fruit: capsule pendulous; capsule 3 to 5 valvate. Raiz: parte subterrânea(s) espessada(s). Folha: lâmina(s) simples palmatilobada(s); ápice(s) agudo(s) ou obtuso(s). Inflorescência: tipo paniculada(s)/racemosa(s). Flor: diâm. (cm) 8 a(s) 12; poro(s) apical(ais) das antera(s) 1. Fruto: cápsula(s) pêndula(s); cápsula(s) 3 a(s) 5 valvar(es). Root: part subterranean thickened. Leaf: blade simple palmatilobed; apex acute or obtuse. Inflorescence: type paniculate/racemose. Flower: diam. (cm) 8 to 12; pore apical of the anther 1. Fruit: capsule pendulous; capsule 3 to 5 valvate. Raiz: parte subterrânea(s) espessada(s). Folha: lâmina(s) simples palmatilobada(s); ápice(s) agudo(s) ou obtuso(s). Inflorescência: tipo paniculada(s)/racemosa(s). Flor: diâm. (cm) 8 a(s) 12; poro(s) apical(ais) das antera(s) 1. Fruto: cápsula(s) pêndula(s); cápsula(s) 3 a(s) 5 valvar(es).