1.Branches usually flattened, leaflike, with a stout midrib, soft, spineless.
通常扁平，叶状的分枝，具一粗壮中脉，柔软，无刺。
2.Inflorescences terminal, capitate, globose, many flowered, with involucre of green leaflike bracts.
花序顶生，头状，球状，多花的，具绿色叶状苞片的总苞。
3.anthers oblong. Female inflorescences crowded in apical leaf axils among leaflike bracts and bracteoles.
花药长圆形雌花序在叶状的苞片和小苞片中聚集于顶端叶腋。
4.bracts broadly lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, leaflike, usually longer than pedicel.
苞片宽披针形的到长圆状披针形，叶状，比花梗通常长。
5.Main stems erect or climbing, generally branched, with cladodes (leaflike stems) in axis of main stems and branches.
主茎直立或攀援的，通常是分枝，具扁茎（叶状茎）在主茎和分枝腋处的。
6.branches usually flattened and leaflike, or 3-winged, with stout midrib, margins crenate, coarsely serrate, or lacerate, sometimes horny.
枝通常扁平和叶状的，或具3翅，具坚固的中脉，边缘具圆齿，有粗锯齿的，或撕裂状，有时有角的。
7.bracts deciduous, leaflike, gradually reduced in successive nodes.
苞片落叶，叶状，在连续的节里逐渐退化的。
8.involucral bract leaflike; heads many, hemispheric, many flowered.
总苞片叶状头状花序很多，半球形，多花的。
9.lower bracts leaflike, gradually reduced upward, broadly ovate, shorter than calyx.
叶状的下部苞片，向上逐渐退化，宽卵形，短于花萼。
10.Inflorescences without leaflike bracts.
没有叶状的苞片的花序。