Plants perennial, 7-10 dm; roots not also arising from proximal nodes; rhizomes present. Stems ascending to erect, sometimes scandent, glabrous or retrorsely hispid. Leaves: ocrea brownish, cylindric, 15-25(-50) mm, coriaceous proximally, chartaceous distally, base often inflated, margins oblique, eciliate, surface glabrous or pubescent; petiole 1-2.5 cm, winged at least distally; blade lanceolate to ovate or elliptic, 4-16 × 1.5-8 cm, base truncate to broadly cordate, margins glabrous or antrorsely scabrous with whitish hairs, apex acuminate, faces glabrous or hispid abaxially and adaxially, sometimes pubescent only along veins abaxially, not glandular-punctate but often minutely reddish-punctate abaxially. Inflorescences terminal or terminal and axillary, 3-6 × 3-6 mm; peduncle 10-30 mm, stipitate-glandular along entire length; ocreolae overlapping, margins eciliate. Pedicels mostly ascending, 2-3 mm. Flowers 1-3 per ocreate fascicle; perianth white to pink, campanulate, glabrous, accrescent; tepals 5, ovate, 3-4 mm, apex acute to obtuse; stamens 8, filaments distinct, free; anthers red or purple, elliptic; styles 3, connate proximally. Achenes included in fleshy, bluish black perianth, black, 3-gonous, 2.8-4 × 2-3 mm, dull, minutely punctuate.