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Leaves 2–20 ? 1.5–15 cm, ovate to ovate-oblong or triangular, rounded to obtuse or acute and ± mucronulate at the apex, cordate or cordate-auriculate with a deep sinus at the base, or leaves 3-lobed with basal lobes strongly patent; terminal lobe much larger than the lateral lobes, 1.5–7(10) ? 0.6–3(4) cm, lanceolate to ± ovate; lateral lobes 0.5–2(3) cm in diameter, rotund; lamina glabrous or somewhat puberulous on both surfaces particularly on the veins and around the margins, with 3–7 principal veins from base, the veins and reticulation prominent on the lower surface; petioles 3–40 mm long, pubescent to glabrous; pseudostipules leaf-like, 5–20 ? 2.5–14 mm, rotund to ovate or oblong, rounded to subacute sometimes mucronate at the apex, cordate at the base, glabrous or minutely puberulous mainly on veins and margins.
Perianth glabrous: constricted part below the utricle 0.5–5 mm long; inflated part (utricle) 2–8 mm in diameter, oblong-ellipsoid to subglobose; tube 2.5–20 ? 0.75–2.5 mm, straight, cylindrical, dilated at apex, greyish to purplish-green; limb 8–40 ? 3–20 mm, subrotund, oblong-elliptic, elliptic, obovate or panduriform, hairy towards the base, dark purple to purplish-black or brown, sometimes shading to creamy-white at the base.
Fruit a capsule, 2–5 ? 1–3 cm, oblong-cylindrical to obpyriform, 6-ribbed, apex rounded, base attenuate into a stipe 1–4 cm long; when ripe the pendulous capsule and stipe split longitudinally into 6 segments which remain joined to the pedicel by the thread-like elements of the stipe, the segments separating widely about the middle while remaining joined at the capsule apex, the whole resembling an inverted “parachute”.
Inflorescences axillary, racemose, 2–30(40) cm long, usually elongate, 2–9(15)-flowered; rhachis pubescent to glabrous; bracts conspicuous, persistent, 0.3–4 ? 0.2–3 cm, ovate to rotund, rounded to acute and sometimes mucronate at the apex, rounded to cordate and ± amplexicaul at the base, usually glabrous, less often pubescent to minutely puberulous.
Seeds 6–15 ? 4–10 mm, triangular, flat, surrounded by a broad papery wing, finely verrucose on one side, the other side finely verrucose with a cuneate, winged raphe down the centre, sometimes ± covering the side.
Stems to 3(11) m long, sometimes very slender, sulcate (in dried state), pubescent to glabrous, sometimes tinged purplish at the nodes.
Creeping or climbing (twining) perennial herb with annual stems from a woody rootstock, pale green to glaucous.
Flowers, including pedicels and ovary, 0.6–3(4) cm long, glabrous or pubescent, ovary glabrous.
Gynostemium 2–3.5 mm tall, anthers 6.
