Evergreen woody climbers, usually with swollen underground tubers; plants climbing by trifid, recurved (uncinate-tipped making apices claw-like) tendrils and being appressed closely to support. Leaves opposite, compound 3-foliate, with 2 leafy leaflets and the terminal leaflet modified into a trifid (3-branched), uncinate tendril. Inflorescences axillary, contracted, few-to several-flowered cymes or panicles, often reduced to a single flower. Calyx membranous, broad-campanulate and irregularly lobed or spathe-like and split. Corolla tubular (-campanulate), straight, lobes often imbricate. Stamens 4, exserted. Fruit a linear capsule, compressed, coriaceous, with numerous 2-winged seeds.
Home