Flora of North America species comparison

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

prickles absent.

perennial, climbing, branching zigzag, terete, 5–9 m × 5–8 mm, woody, glabrous;

prickles numerous, sparse or absent distally, flattened, rigid, stout, to 4 mm.

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.

evergreen;

petiole 0.5–1.2 cm;

blade green abaxially, drying to brownish green, narrowly ovate to ovate-elliptic, with 3 prominent veins, secondary veins obscure to prominent, 4.5–6(–8.5) × 2–3.5 cm, not glaucous, glabrous or minutely pubescent abaxially, base auriculate, pandurate, or rounded, cuneate at insertion of petiole, margins entire, apex acute to abruptly deflexed point.

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

peduncle to 12+ cm, short.

3–8, terminal, axillary to leaves, 5–8(–25)-flowered, loose;

peduncle 0.2–1.5 cm.

perianth greenish;

tepals 35–45 mm;

anthers equaling or shorter than filaments;

ovules (1–)2 per locule;

pedicel 0.5–1.5 cm.

perianth green;

tepals: staminate 6–8 mm, pistillate 3–4 mm;

ovule 1 per locule;

pedicel 0.2–1 cm.

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

purplish maroon, purple, or black, ovoid to flattened, 5–7 mm, glaucous.

;

rhizomes linear or dense masses of potatolike tubers.

= 26.