Perennial tall, stout climber; stem terete, glabrous, branched; leaves up to 20 x 12 cm, long, petioled, broadly ovate to elliptic, coriaceous, acute at apex, obtuse, rounded or cordate at base, glabrous above, glaucous beneath, 5-9 nerved; peduncles longer than petiole, stout; spikes about 8-10 cm long, pendulous, bracts of female flowers short, cupular, oblong, shortly adanate to the rachis, without raised margins; flowers bisexual or unisexual, often the females bear 2-celled, sterile anthers or the males a pistillode; stamens-2, stigma sessile, 3-5; fruits globose, sessile berries, pungent, red at maturity.