Woody climbers, deciduous or subevergreen. Monoecious. Stems twining. Winter bud outer scales numerous, persistent. Leaves alternate or clustered on short branches; petiole long; leaf blade palmately compound, 3--5(--7)-foliolate; leaflet margin entire, sinuate, or undulate. Inflorescences axillary, racemose, sometimes umbellate; bracts subtending inflorescences, persistent, scaly. Sepals usually 3(--6), purplish red or greenish white, subvalvate, reflexed at anthesis. Petals absent. Male flowers: borne apically on inflorescence. Stamens free; filaments very short; anthers incurved at anthesis. Pistillodes small. Female flowers: 1 or 2 basally on inflorescence, larger than male flowers. Carpels 3--9(--12), free, cylindric. Stigma capitate. Fruit fleshy follicles, dehiscent along abaxial suture. Seeds numerous, in several rows within pulp, slightly compressed; embryo small.

Five species: China, Japan, Korea; four species (two endemic) in China.