Flora of North America species comparison

perennial, prostrate to clambering, branching, slender, to 1 m, ± woody, densely woolly-pubescent, usually prickly (especially at base).

erect or climbing, usually prickly, sometimes unarmed.

mostly evergreen, ± evenly disposed;

petiole 0.05–0.25 cm, often longer on sterile shoots;

blade gray-green, drying to ashy gray-green, obovate to ovate-lanceolate, with 3 prominent veins, 6–10.5 × 5–8 cm, glabrous adaxially, densely puberulent abaxially, base cordate to deeply notched, margins entire, apex bluntly pointed.

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

umbellate [or racemose or spicate].

1–7, axillary to leaves, 5–16-flowered, loose, spherical;

peduncle 0.2–0.8 cm, shorter than to 1.5 as long as petiole of subtending leaf.

perianth yellowish;

tepals 3–4 mm;

anthers much shorter than filaments;

ovule 1 per locule;

pedicel thin, 0.1–0.4 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.

red, ovoid, 5–8 mm, with acute beaks, not glaucous.

1–3.