Description:—A half-climbing shrub, growing to a height of 5-30 ft. Branches with light-brown bark, minutely pubescent. Leaves petioled; lamina 1-3 cm. long, 3-5·5 cm. broad, more or less reniform in outline, lobed above, subcordate at the base, with the veining distinct above and prominent beneath, glabrous; petioles 8-1·5 cm. long, convex beneath, channelled above. Stipules 3 mm. long, deciduous. Flowers in 3-7-flowered racemes opposite the leaves. Bracts and bracteoles 3 mm. long, setaceous, deciduous. Buds light brown, acuminate, pubescent. Calyx-tube, 2-2·7 cm. long; limb spathaceous, unilateral in open flowers. Petals long clawed; claws 2 cm. long, somewhat compressed; limb 1·7-2 cm. long, 1·5-1·7 cm. broad, ovate, apiculate, subcordate, at the base. Fertile stamens 4; filaments 2·5 cm. long, terete, bent inwards above; anthers 7 mm. long, linear. Staminodes 5 mm. long, setaceous, sometimes deeply 2-lobed. Ovary on a long gynophore 1·5 cm. long, silky pubescent; style 5 mm. long, stigma capitate. Fruit 12·5 cm. long, 2·5 cm. broad, with a double margin along one edge, oblanceolate, tipped with the persistent style, and narrowed at the base. Seeds 1·9 cm. long, oblong, flattened, dark brown.
Plate 79.—Fig. 1, surface view of flower to show staminodes, the limb of the petals removed; Fig. 2, pistil, showing long gynophore; Fig. 3, stamen; Figs. 4, 5, front and side views of calyx; Fig. 6, fruit.
F.P.S.A., 1922.
S. Gower del.