A deciduous, slender climber, 5—15 m long, bark often reddish, flaky, pubescent when young, hairs multicellular, uniseriate and unicellular 2-armed, tendrils usually unbranched. Leaves simple, orbicular to broadly ovate, 8—18 cm x 10—19 cm, base cordate to reniform, apex acuminate to cuspidate, membranaceous, veins prominent, secondary veins terminating in hair-like projections which extend beyond the margin, hairs on lower surface 2-armed, petiole 3—8 cm long, stipules rounded-triangular, 3.5 mm long, glabrous. Inflorescence umbellate, loose, 2.5—7 cm long, 3—5 primary branches, pubescent, corolla 1—1.5 mm long, often papillose, pale green to white. Berry pyriform, 4.5—7 mm long, dark brown to black, 1-seeded. Seed ovoid, 4—6 mm long, lower end beaked, endosperm in transverse section twice divided by the thin endotesta, cotyledons similar.

Used as an alterative, diuretic and blood purifier (decoction of the dried tuberous roots)

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Used as cold infusion for coughs (pounded root); for cough and diarrhoea (juice from the stem); externally applied for maturation of boils (leaves); heated and applied to cuts and fractures (powdered root).