Perennial woody twining herb, erect then twining, stems armed with stinging hairs, lateral racemes with bracts of greenish flowers, male bracts 2mm, female bracts 3mm, stinging hairs on leaves, puberulous leaves serrate & bristly beneath 100mm x 40mm, sparingly bristly capsule 6mm across, mature fruits reddish-brown to orange, pink when young, greenish-yellow flowers, males with 3 puberulous sepals, coriaceous female calyx with 3 segments