Male flowers in paniculoid axillary fascicles. Receptacle-tube broad, shallow, lobes small. Petals 5, free, unequal. Stamens 4, all 1-thecous, in 2 pairs united by their anthers; fifth stamen reduced to a subulate staminode; filaments inserted on receptacle-tube; connective apically ± produced; thecae short, straight.
female flowers solitary or few-fasciculate; ovary trigonous; ovules several, pendulous; perianth similar to that of male flowers; styles 3.
Fruit an obconic-cylindric, trigonous capsule, dry, brownish, dehiscent by an apical triradiate slit.
Scandent herbs, stems becoming woody when old, usually arising from perennial tuberous rootstock.
Seeds elongated, narrow, with an apical membraneous wing.
Flowers small, brownish, dioecious, ± zygomorphic.
Leaves simple, petiolate.
Tendrils apically 2-fid.