Scandent, dioecious, glabrous, spiny suffru-tices. Rhizome large with age; roots numerous, swollen. Stems tough, with scattered, small, sharp, exserted prickles. Leaves alternate, usually in one plane with a pair of spirally coiled tendrils near the base (an extension of the leaf sheath); petiole short; blade firm, flat, broadly oblong, ± 60-100 X 30-60 mm, obtuse to acute, apiculate, net-veined, with two strong lateral nerves on each side of midrib. Inflorescence an axillary globose umbel, many-flowered; pedun­cle ± 30 mm long. Flowers with pedicels ± 5 mm long, which become discoid at apex and base with age; basal bracts minute. Male flowers with 6 broadly linear, recurved tepals, ± 5 mm long, fused into a short broad cup below. Stamens 6, placed on base of perianth; anthers basifixed, erect, filiform, in line with filament. Female flowers with perianth similar to that of male flowers. Staminodia 3, filiform, short. Ovary ovoid; styles 3, recurved; ovule solitary in each