Urera are
lianas,
shrubs, and small
trees. Climbing species root along the stems and can reach the crowns of the trees they use for support. Some are
spiny. They almost always have
urticating hairs, often on bumps in the epidermis. These are stiff, stinging
trichomes with swollen bases. The leaves are variable in shape and venation, and help in the identification of species. Also useful is the varying appearance and arrangement of
cystoliths on the leaf surface. The
inflorescence is a divided, branching
panicle of flowers. Most species are
dioecious, but a few are
monoecious. Most species have male flowers with either four or five
stamens and
tepals. Female flowers generally have four uneven, free to mostly fused tepals. The fruit is an
achene covered in orange or red flesh. ==Systematics and taxonomy==