Woody climbers, deciduous. Monoecious or seldom dioecious. Stems twining, grayish lenticellate. Winter bud outer scales numerous, imbricate. Leaves alternate, basal ones aggregated on abbreviated twigs, apical ones scattered on stem; leaf blade palmate. Inflorescences racemose, axillary; bracts subtending inflorescences, persistent, small, scaly. Male flowers: several to many, fascicled, apically on rachis. Sepals 6, in two whorls. Petals absent. Stamens 6; connective apical appendage apiculate. Female flowers: 1 or 2 basally on inflorescence, larger than male flowers. Carpels 3. Fruit fleshy follicles, dehiscent. Seeds numerous; seed coat reddish brown.

* One species.