Soil Notes:
Prefers well-drained, loamy soils
Diagnostic Characteristics:
Leaves are opposite, simple, broad-ovate, coarsely toothed to coarsely dentate, short acuminate, rounded to cordate at base, lustrous dark green, glabrous at 2 to 4 (5)" in length and 2-4" in width. Petioles range from 1 to 3" in length. First year stems are reddish brown and pubescent whereas the second year a lighter brown, vertically fissured, glabrous, developing root-like holdfasts. Flowers are sterile, one large 1 to 1 1/3" long, ovate sepal which collectively form a large, flat-topped, 8 to 10" inflorescence.
