Perennial tendril climber. Leaves with somewhat hairy, 1-1.7 cm long, filiform petiole bearing 2 opposite or alternate stipitate glands, located c. 2-3 mm below lamina; lamina elliptic-ovate or oval, 6-7.5 cm long, 4.5-5.5 cm broad, entire or 3-lobed, glabrous, obtuse or acute, mucronate; stipules setaceous, c. 5-6 mm long. Flowers solitary axillary, on drooping, filiform, 1-1.5 cm long peduncles, pale-green, c. 1 cm across; pedicel 3-4 mm long; hypanthium saucer shaped. Sepals 5, oblong-lanceolate, 5-6 mm long, 2.5-3 mm wide, somewhat hooded, obtuse, pale-green. Petals absent. Corona 4-seriate, filaments shorter than sepals, pale green and purple. Stamens 5, filaments 2.5-3 mm long; anthers c. 2 mm long. Ovary subglobose, c. 2 mm long; styles clavate, each c. 3 mm long. Berry pulpy, globose c. 1 cm in diameter, purplish.
Fl.Per.: March-September.
Type: Herb.Linn. 1070/20 (LINN).
Distribution: A native of West Indies.
Cultivated in gardens for dark green foliage.
