A monoecious or sometimes dioecious woody herb or undershrub 1-2 in tall. Stems fairly stout, ± simple or sparingly-branched from the base. Young shoots and petioles evenly appressed-pubescent. Petioles 0.5-4 (-8) cm. Leaf-blades very variable in shape and size, elliptic-lanceolate to rhomboid-ovate, sometimes with 1-2 lateral lobes, 2-11 (-20) x 1-6 (-15) cm, acute or obtuse, usually cuneate but sometimes rounded at the base, coarsely serrate to sinuate-dentate, chartaceous, lateral nerves 3-8 pairs, slightly prominent above, more so beneath, sparingly to evenly appressed-pubescent above and beneath at first, later ± glabrescent. Stipules broadly ovate to semicircular, 1 mm long, glabrous, somewhat glandular. Male inflorescences 3-10 cm long, interruptedly racemose, with fascicles of flowers at intervals along the axis; axis subglabrous; bracts small, pubescent. Male flowers: pedicels 3-8 mm long, capillary, sub-glabrous or sparingly pubescent; calyx-lobes 4-5, orbicular, 1.5-2 mm long and wide, glabrous; disc annular, undulate or lobulate and somewhat crisped; stamens 25, 2 mm long, anthers 0.5 mm across. Female flowers: pedicels 2-3 mm long, extending to 5 mm in fruit, stout, pubescent; calyx-lobes 5-6, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 2 mm long, somewhat erose, sparingly pubescent; disc annular, somewhat irregularly toothed; ovary trilobate-subglobose, 2 mm diam., densely sericeous-pubescent; styles 1-1.5 mm long, stigmas smooth. Fruits strongly trilobate-obpyriform, 8-9 mm long and in diam, smooth, sparingly pubescent. Seeds 7 x 5 mm, smooth, shiny, pale greyish-brown, mottled dark brown.

Fl. Per.: April - Sept. Fr. Per.: Jul: Sept.

Holotype: India, 1800, Klein s.n. in Hb. Wind. No. 17927 (B-WILLD); IDC microfiche 7440-29/1296: I. 2!.

Distribution: China (Yunnan), India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Burma, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, W. Malesia. 2000 - 4000'/610 -1220 m.