Flora of North America species comparison

annual, erect to ascending, branched, 2–2.5 m, herbaceous, glabrous;

prickles absent.

erect or climbing, usually prickly, sometimes unarmed.

evenly distributed, proximalmost smaller, narrower;

petiole 1.5–9 cm, shorter than blade;

tendrils numerous, long, functional;

blade not lustrous, pale green abaxially, ovate to round, 4–8 × 3–6 cm, not glaucous, pubescent abaxially, with transparent trichomes, base cordate, margins entire, convex, apex acuminate to rounded and cuspidate.

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

umbellate [or racemose or spicate].

many, axillary to leaves, to 35-flowered, dense, globose;

peduncle to 12+ cm, short.

perianth greenish;

tepals 35–45 mm;

anthers equaling or shorter than filaments;

ovules (1–)2 per locule;

pedicel 0.5–1.5 cm.

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.

bluish black to black, subglobose, 8–10 mm, glaucous.

1–3.

= 26.