The perennial twining vine. The root is slender, ending in a fat tuber, reddish brown to dark brown in appearance. The base of the stem is slightly woody and hollow. Leaves alternate; long-petiolate; ocrea membranous, brown; leaf blade narrowly ovate or cordate, 4-8cm long, 2.5-5cm wide, apex acuminate, base cordate or aristate, entire or slightly undulate, dark green above, light green below, both surfaces smooth and glabrous. Inflorescences paniculate. Pedicels articulate, base with membranous bracts; flowers small, perianth greenish white, 5-lobed, unequal in size, outside 3 pieces winged dorsally; stamens 8, unequal, shorter than perianth; pistil 1, stigma 3-lobed, capitate. Achenes ellipsoid, 3-angled, black, shiny, outside persistent perianth, perianth with conspicuous 3 wings. Fl. 8-Oct, fr. 9-Nov.