Vines; rhizomes linear or dense masses of potatolike tubers. Stems 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. Leaves 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. Umbels 3-8, terminal, axillary to leaves, 5-8 (-25)-flowered, loose; peduncle 0.2-1.5 cm. Flowers: perianth green; tepals: staminate 6-8 mm, pistillate 3-4 mm; ovule 1 per locule; pedicel 0.2-1 cm. Berries purplish maroon, purple, or black, ovoid to flattened, 5-7 mm, glaucous.

Flowering Apr--Jul. Dunes and sandy flatwoods, full sun; 0--100 m; Ala., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., N.C., S.C.; West Indies (Bahamas).