Carpacoce

Dwarf shrubs, rarely perennial herbs, bisexual, female, or occasionally male, bisexual + female, or bisexual + male. Leaves decussate or (rarely) in whorls of 3, often ericoid, +/- pungent, acuminate or acute at apex, (sub)sessile; stipular sheaths cup- or funnel-shaped, bearing minute setae or (less commonly) longer bristles on either side. Inflorescence frequently very inconspicuous, made up of flowers paired or solitary at nodes, or of mostly few-flowered cymes. Flowers bisexual, female or occasionally male. Calyx 3-5(6)-lobed, lobes leaf-like, often unequal in size. Corolla 4-7-lobed; lobes linear to +/- lanceolate, hooded, spreading to spreading-recurved (bisexual, male) or +/- erect (female); tube cylindrical to +/- narrowly funnel-shaped; in bisexual and male flowers corolla much larger than in female flowers. Stamens 4-7; anthers purplish red to dark purplish brown, exserted, dangling on long, slender, filiform filaments. Ovary 2-carpellate with 1(2) fertile, erect ovule(s); style 0; stigmas 1(2), long-exserted, hairy, purplish red, greenish grey, greyish or whitish. Fruit 1(2)-seeded, crowned by persistent calyx lobes; exocarp dehiscing into valves, releasing endocarp with enclosed seed. x = 11 (aneuploids).