Perennial vine to c. 10 m long, with simple axillary tendrils, glabrous or sparsely villous. Stems terete, slender. Stipules 3–4 mm long, 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaves alternate, (3–) 5-lobed for up to ⅘ of length; lobes widest near middle, oblong-lanceolate to elliptic, acuminate, each with a main vein; lamina 4–12 cm long, 6–12 cm wide, with glands in sinuses, base cuneate to cordate, margin serrulate or serrate; petiole 1.5–5 cm long, with 2 glands near middle. Flowers bisexual, borne singly in leaf axils, 8–10 cm diam.; pedicels 5–6 cm long; bracts 3, ovate or ovate-spathulate, 1–2 cm long, 8–12 mm wide, serrulate except at base, free. Sepals white adaxially, green abaxially, 4–5 cm long, keeled, terminating in an awn c. 3 mm long. Petals white, 4–5 cm long. Corona of several series of filaments; outer 2 series white with blue bands, 2–2.5 cm long; inner series blue, 2–5 mm long. Operculum membranous in basal half, filamentous in apical half. Androgynophore c. 1 cm long, straight. Stamens 5. Styles 3. Fruit globose, c. 4 cm diam. Seeds punctate at centre, winged at margins.
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