Lianas , twining, to 20 m, woody. Young stem ribbed, strigose. Leaves: petiole 0.1-0.8 cm. Leaf blade obovate, 7-15 × 3-7 cm, base truncate to slightly cordate, sinus depth 0-0.2 cm, apex acuminate; surfaces abaxially strigose; venation palmate-pinnate. Inflorescences on new growth, axillary, solitary flowers or rhipidiate from base of plant; peduncle not bracteolate, 2-2.5 cm. Flowers: calyx brown-purple, bent; utricle horizontal, ovoid, 2-3.5 × 1 cm; syrinx absent; tube upright, funnel-shaped, 1-3 cm; annulus absent; limb dark purple, 1-lobed, lobe ovate, 1-6 × 1 cm, glabrous; gynostemium 6-lobed, crown-shaped, 5-10 mm; anthers 6; ovary 6-locular, 2-2.5 cm. Capsule ovoid, 10-15 × 4-7 cm, dehiscence acropetal; valves 6; septa persistent, clathrate. Seeds flat, triangular, 1-1.5 × 1.5 cm.

Flowering all year. Hammocks; 0-50 m; introduced; Fla.; native to Central America; South America.