Semierect shrubs or woody vines, to 3 m tall. Stems yellowish green, becoming brown when old, terete, twisted, ± smooth. Petiole 3-7 mm; leaf blade elliptic, obovate, or spatulate, (2.2-)2.5-4.5 × 1.5-2.5 cm, basal veins 3, base narrowly cuneate, decurrent to form petiole, apex obtuse or slightly acute. Male inflorescences fasciculate, 1-8-flowered; peduncle 2-4 mm; bracts orbicular. Female inflorescences usually 1-flowered. Flowers unisexual (plants dioecious). Male flowers yellowish green, bracteoles 4 or 5, elliptic, tiny; perianth lobes triangular, incurved; stamen filaments short, with a tuft of hair behind each stamen, cells rounded. Female flowers: style very short, stigma 3-5-lobed. Drupe deep red to glossy black when mature, globose, ca. 3 mm in diam., contracted near apex, slightly umbonulate. Fl. Dec-Feb, fr. Mar-May.
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