Root fibrous; base of stem tumid perennial. Branches glabrous, stout and fleshy below, more slender and climbing above, geniculate at the nodes. Leaves ashy-grey, polymorphous, 1–4 in. broad, ovate-cordate in the lower part of the plant, more orbicular and palmately 3–5-lobed in the upper, lobes obovate-oblong or linear, acute, toothed, more or less scabridly pubescent or hispidly scabrid on both surfaces, sinus obtuse, basal rounded; petiole shorter than the blade, longest in young specimens and then sometimes papillose. Tendrils stout. Male fl.: Minute, crowded; peduncle stout, 1/2–1 in. Calyx urceolate. Corolla 1–16 in. diameter. Stamens short; anthers with short bifid points. Female fl.: Peduncles 1–2, in the same axils as the males, short. Ovary subcylindric, placentas 2; style cylindric, stigmas 2. Berry very shortly peduncled, 1/2– 3/4 in. long, subcylindric-oblong, apex rounded and mammillate. Seeds as in C. Fenzlii .
