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Embryo straight, with broad cotyledons.—Shrubs or trees, with mostly pinnate leaves, the stems and often the leafstalks prickly.

From the leafstalks baskets are made, while the trunk furnishes material for houses and for fences.

The base of the leafstalk is hollow and in falling off exposes the winter bud.

From the fibres of its leafstalks ropes are sometimes made.

Leaves large, deciduous, alternate, palmately 3- to 5-lobed, deeply heart-shaped at base, the margin entire, the lobes acute; smooth or slightly hairy; leafstalk about as long as the blade.