Flora of North America species comparison

annual, erect, 2–5 m, herbaceous, glabrous;

prickles absent.

erect or climbing, usually prickly, sometimes unarmed.

few, disposed distally or evenly distributed, subequal;

petiole shorter than blade;

tendrils absent or rudimentary;

blade oblong, oblong-ovate, or sometimes oval, 2.5–12 × 1.5–7.5 cm, not glaucous, puberulent abaxially, base rounded to slightly cordate, margins entire, apex broadly rounded to obtuse or abruptly pointed.

opposite or alternate, prominently 3-veined, reticulate between veins, usually bearing tendrils, usually leathery.

umbellate [or racemose or spicate].

1–3, proximalmost axillary to bracts, 5–12-flowered.

perianth greenish;

tepals 3–3.5 mm;

anthers shorter than filaments;

ovules (1–)2 per locule.

unisexual, staminate and pistillate on different plants;

tepals 6, distinct, rarely united into perianth tube;

stamens 2–3-whorled, anthers 1-locular; pistillate flowers bearing staminodes, pistil 3-carpellate;

ovary 2-locular, 1–2 ovules per locule.

baccate.

globose, 8–10 mm diam., glaucous.

1–3.

= 26.