Perennial erect, reclining or twining pubescent herb from woody root with stinging hairs. Dentate-serrate hispid leaves to 500mm long. Terminal, leaf-opposed or lateral many-flowered racemes to 35mm long of flowers bearing one pistillate flower & a few staminate flowers to 2mm across, staminate flowers with 3 sepals & 3 stamens, pistillate flowers with 5 sepals. Fruit a hispid 3-seeded capsule 7mm across.