Somewhat woody climber up to 15 m., up to 10 cm. thick at base, older stems ± triangular in cross-section; twigs grey-green, sometimes pruinose, spotted or not. Leaf-blades often variegated, very pale beneath, punctate or not, entire to 3–5-lobed or with sinuate margin, broadly ovate to ± triangular or rhombic, base cordate to rounded or truncate, top acute, up to 2 cm. acuminate, sometimes 1 mm. mucronate, 2–11 by 1.5–10 cm., 3–5-nerved from base and with (0–)1–2(–4) pairs of nerves from the midrib; nerves ascending or straight, ending in the leaf margin or not, reticulation distinct or not; margin entire; lobes subtriangular or rounded, up to 2 cm.; petiole 1–6.5 cm. Gland at blade-base single, on a median circular to spathulate appendage 1–2.5 mm.; blade-glands 0–30, small, scattered or submarginal, sometimes ± axillary to the nerves; marginal glands minute, blackish, 2–7 at either side of the blade. Stipules broad, rounded, finely lacerate, ± 0.5 mm. Inflorescences peduncled for 0.5–5 cm., up to 20-flowered in ♂, 2–3(–5)-flowered in ♀, tendril 0 or 1, 0.5–1.5 cm.; sterile tendrils simple or 3-fid, 10–20 cm. Male flowers ± campanulate, including the 1.5–4.5 mm. long stipe 7–14 mm.; hypanthium cup-shaped, 0.5–1(–2) by 3.5 mm.; calyx-tube 0(–1) mm.; sepals oblong-lanceolate, obtuse to subacute, subentire, 5–8 by 2–3 mm., punctate; petals oblanceolate, obtuse, with fimbriate margin, 5.5–8.5 mm., 3(–5)-nerved, sparingly punctate; filaments 1.5–2 mm., connate for 0.5–1 mm., inserted at the base of the hypanthium; anthers 3.5–4 mm., obtuse; septa (0.2–)0.5–1 mm. high; corona 0; disk glands 0. Female flowers ± campanulate, including the 0.2–1 mm. long stipe 6–7.5 mm.; hypanthium shallowly cup-shaped, 0.5–1 by 3–3.5 mm.; calyx-tube 0; sepals oblong to lanceolate, subacute, 4.5– 5.5 mm., subentire, punctate; petals lanceolate-linear, subobtuse to acute, 2.5–3 mm., 1-nerved, subentire, not punctate; staminodes ± 0.5 mm., connate for 0–0.3 mm.; septa 0–0.3 mm.; corona a low 5-lobed ring, ±0.3 mm. high; disk glands 0; gynophore ± 0.5 mm.; ovary ovoid, ± 3-ribbed, 3–4.5 mm., smooth or finely warty or granulate, style (0–)0.7 mm., stigmas sessile, reniform to globose, papillate, each 1–1.5 mm. in diameter. Fruits 1(–2) per inflorescence, subglobose, ovoid or ellipsoid, sometimes ± 3(–6)-angular, excluding the 0.5–1.5 mm. long gynophore 2–3(–3.5) by 1.5– 2(–2.5) cm.; pericarp coriaceous or woody, (0.5–)1–2 mm. thick, strongly warted to nearly smooth, or pitted. Seeds 30–50 per capsule, ovoid, 4– 4.5(–5) mm. Fig. 5/7, p. 21.
