Climbing shrub or herbaceous perennial caudiciform climber to 5m growing from large underground tuber or perennial succulent with caudex to 600mm across. Striated branches, 3-5 palmately lobed leaves to 180mm long x 170mm, leaf veins flushed purple-red. Axillary cymes to 70mm long ending in curled tendril to 150mm long, 1-60 male flowers, 1-10 female flowers, hermaphrodite flowers to 25mm long, white or yellow or orange, purplish-green at base with bracts & bracteoles to 3mm. Flowers sometimes fragrant. Male flower to 38mm x 10mm including 15mm long stipe with calyx tube to 12mm long & dentate-fimbriate lobes to 11mm dentate-fimbriate petals to 12mm x 2.5mm. Female flowers to 26mm x 6mm including 7mm long stipe with calyx tube to 8mm long & lobes to 7mm long, petals to 7mm x 1mm. Coriaceous 3-valved capsule to 75mm x 40mm, yellow to purple-red encircled with persistent calyx,
Deadly poisonous.
Medicinal