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1 Leaves opposite (upper leaves sometimes subopposite or alternate); leaf lower surface glabrous, puberulent, or short-pilose, the pubescence not obscuring the green leaf surface; inflorescences (axillary) spikes, often leafy at their apices; herb to 1.5 m tall; [subgenus Duretia]
1 Leaves alternate; leaf lower surface white-tomentose, the pubescence obscuring the green leaf surface; inflorescences (axillary) paniculately branched, never leafy at their apices; herb or shrub to 4 m tall; [subgenus Tilocnide]
....3 Plant without stinging trichomes (or these minute and not apparent), the non-stinging hairs (if present) soft and flexible, lacking a bulbous or cylindrical base.
......4 Flowers in axillary spikes; foliage dull, yellow-green; leaves 3-veined from the base, the 2 main side veins reaching the margin about 2/3s of the way from blade base to blade tip, the midvein with 1-2 or more prominent secondary veins borne near or past the midpoint and at a sharply acute angle to the midvein, these arching to the leaf margin; [tribe Boehmerieae]
......4 Flowers in axillary panicles or fascicles; foliage shiny, bright green; leaves 3-veined from the base, the 2 main side veins extending to the apex of the blade, the midvein with many secondary veins borne along its length at a nearly right angle, and connecting to the 2 main side veins rather than reaching the leaf margin; [tribe Lecantheae]