Lianas, woody or subwoody, hermaphroditic or polygamo-monoecious. Tendrils unbranched or bifurcate, sometimes racemosely branched. Leaves simple or palmately compound. Inflorescence a compound dichasium or an umbel, leaf-opposed. Flowers 4-merous. Calyx cupular, glabrous. Petals falling off separately. Stamens 4. Disk well developed, margin undulate or slightly 4-lobed. Style conspicuous; stigma undivided or 2-divided. Berry obovoid or ellipsoid, 1- or 2-seeded. Seeds obovoid-elliptic or elliptic, base rostrate, apex rounded, chalazal knot at or near base; cross-section of endosperm M-shaped.

Cissus umbellata Loureiro (Fl. Cochinch. 1: 84. 1790) is the basionym of Strychnos umbellata (Loureiro) Merrill in the Loganiaceae (see Fl. China 15: 326. 1996).

About 350 species: mainly in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, Australia, Central and South America, and North America (Mexico); 15 species (two endemic) in China.

(Authors: Ren Hui (任辉); Jun Wen (文军))