Woody climbers. Stems with young growing tips sometimes tendrilliform. Leaves with base 3-or 5-nerved. Inflorescences axillary or supra-axillary, cymose or pseudo-paniculate. Male flowers: sepals 6 (or 9), in whorls of 3, tomentose, inner whorl valvate and larger than outer whorl(s); petals 6, concave; stamens 6, free; rudimentary carpels 3 or 0. Female flowers: sepals and petals similar to male; staminodes 6 or 0; carpels 3, tomentose, style reflexed, stigma entire. Drupes with style-scar near base, subcompressed-obovoid, abruptly narrowed at base into a short stipe; endocarp laterally convex containing 2 large lateral cavities each with a large external aperture and separated internally by a septum with a small central hole, dorsally bearing a raised longitudinal band, surface smooth or slightly rugose. Seed horseshoe-shaped, narrow, embedded in endosperm.
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