Straggling or scandent, shrubby climbers rooting on trees with hanging, epiphytic, aerial roots; stem stout; leaves distichous, large leathery, glossy, elliptic-oblong, broadly cordate at base, segments 8-15 pairs, falcately ensiform or pinnately perforated, heart shaped in juvenile stage but soon become lobed and holed, primary nerves many, secondary branched; petiole very short; spadix stipitate, elongate, subcylindric or elliptic-oblong; spathe white, ovate, acuminate, usually beaked; flowers bisexual, numerous, creamy white; perianth annular, cupular or absent; stamens 4-6, filaments very short, flattened, anther cells erect, subreniform; ovary subconic, truncate, 1-celled, stigma small, sessile, linear, ovule solitary, basilar; fruit fleshy, looking like a green year of maize containing many, small, sessile berries with pungent odour; seeds exalbuminous, after ripening the flesh resembles that of pineapple in texture as well as in taste.