Dioecious shrub or climber up to 8 m tall, with a swollen, warty globular trunk up to 2.5 m in diameter; stems erect or scandent, more or less succulent, with axillary, up to 8 cm long thorns. Leaves alternate, simple and entire to 3-lobed, soon falling; petiole 1–1.5 mm long; stipules narrowly triangular, c. 0.5 mm long, acute; blade triangular, 3–7 mm × 1.5–9 mm, base rounded, apex acute, with 1 kidney-shaped gland at base. Inflorescence an axillary cyme, 1–5-flowered; peduncle up to 1.5 mm long; bracts and bracteoles triangular. Flowers unisexual, regular, 5-merous, greenish white; pedicel up to 1(–1.5) cm long, jointed near base; calyx tube about as long as lobes; petals free, exserted, toothed; male flowers up to 2 cm long, filaments of stamens fused at base, anthers free, ovary rudimentary; female flowers up to 1 cm long, ovary superior, ovoid to ellipsoid, 3-ribbed, styles 3, fused at base, stigmas kidney-shaped, stamens rudimentary. Fruit a stalked globular to ovate-ellipsoid capsule 1–3 cm × 1–2 cm, leathery, smooth, green, many-seeded. Seeds broadly ovoid, flattened, 6–7 mm × 3–5.5 mm × 3 mm, pitted.

PROTAbase: Adenia globosa

A cold water extract of the stem is drunk to treat abdominal pain. An extract is used as a bath to treat itches.