Dioecious woody climbers, bearing adventitious roots from the climbing stems. Stinging hairs generally present but usually confined to the petioles and inflorescences. Stipules fused, intrapetiolar. Leaves alternate; lamina 3-veined from the base. Inflorescences axillary cymes. Male flowers 4-5-merous; stamens equal in number to tepals. Female flowers with 4 unequal tepals; these persistent and enlarging to become fleshy and orange or red in fruit. Worldwide: c. 40 species, widespread in tropical and South Africa, Madagascar, tropical America and the Pacific Islands. Rwanda: 2 taxa. |
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