Large climbers, glabrous. Tendrils simple, axillary or replacing the central flower of the inflorescences. Leaves 3-or 5-fofiolate; petiole distinct; leaflets obovate or elliptic to oblong, entire, distinctly petiolulate. Glands on petiole 1 pair, subopposite, situated towards the base; on leaflets marginal or submarginal, small, or absent. Inflorescences axillary, cymose, 2–100-flowered; peduncle distinct. Flowers hermaphrodite or functionally ♂, glabrous. Stipe distinct, jointed to short pedicel. Hypanthium saucer-shaped, 2–3 mm. wide. Tepals reflexed in anthesis; sepals 5, free; petals 5, free. Corona single, 3.5–8 mm. high, composed of threads connate at base into a short fleshy tube; threads towards base inside with a zone of short hair-like appendages ± 0.5 mm. Androgynophore ± 0.5 mm. Stamens 5; filaments 3–10 mm., united at base into a broad cup 1–1.5 mm., in E. clematoides sometimes with 5 small teeth at the bottom of the cup and alternating with the stamens; anthers dorsifixed, versatile, ellipsoid (to oblong), apiculate or not. Disk, besides small teeth, absent. Gynophore 0.5–1 mm.; ovary subglobose to ellipsoid, 1-locuiar, with 3(–4) parietal placentas. Styles 3(–4), free or up to over half-way connate; stigmas sub-globose, glabrous, 1–1.5 mm. across. Fruits 1–6 per inflorescence, capsular, woody, 3–(4)-valved, subglobose, depressed globose or ellipsoid, 1.5–4 cm. long. Seeds 4–12 per capsule, subellipsoid, 6–8 mm., coarsely pitted. Efulensia was formerly included by several authors in Deidamia Thouars from Madagascar, which it resembles very much in habit and by the 3-or 5-foliolate leaves. Deidamia differs by the 5–8 stamens free to the base, and by the presence of a distinct annular extrastaminal disk.
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