Stem glabrous, becoming thickened and white dotted on the ridges when older. Leaves broadly ovate, 3.5-14 x 4-14.5 cm, lobes linear-lanceolate to elliptic, glabrous; petiole 1.5-9.0 cm long. Flowers small, white or yellowish, male in sessile clusters of 2-8, along with 5 female flowers in the same axil. Calyx tube 3-4 mm long in male, 1.5-2.5 mm long in female, lobes smaller than tube. Corolla of male larger than female. Ovary ellipsoid, c. 5 mm long, c. 2.5 mm broad, with longitudinal white stripes. Fruit solitary, or in clusters of 2-5, ovoid-subglobose, 1.5-2.5 cm. Seeds 5-6 x 2.5-3 mm.

Fl. Per.: August-October.

Lectotype: Ceylon, Herb. Hermann (BM).

Distribution: Tropical and North Africa, Tropical Asia, Malaysia, Philippines and Tropical Australia.