Clematis trifoliata Thunberg, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 2: 337. 1794; Akebia clematifolia Siebold & Zuccarini; A. lobata Decaisne var. clematifolia (Siebold & Zuccarini) Ito; A. quercifolia Siebold & Zuccarini; A. sempervirens Nakai; A. trifoliata var. clematifolia (Siebold & Zuccarini) Nakai; A. trifoliata var. honanensis T. Shimizu.

Leaflets 3, ovate to broadly ovate, 3--8 × 2--6 cm, papery to subleathery, base truncate to rounded, margin sinuate to shallowly lobed, apex obtuse to slightly emarginate and cuspidate. Racemes 6--16 cm. Male flowers: pedicels 2--5 mm. Sepals 3, pale purple, broadly elliptic to elliptic, 2.5--3 mm. Stamens 2.5--3 mm. Female flowers: sepals purplish brown, suborbicular, 1--1.2 × ca. 1 cm. Carpels 6--9. Fruit grayish white and slightly pale purple at maturity, oblong, 6--8 × 2--4 cm.

Open forest along valleys, scrub on hillsides; 200--2000 m. SE Gansu, S Henan, W Hubei, S Shaanxi, Shandong, S Shanxi, Sichuan [Japan].