Lianas , twining, to 5 m, herbaceous. Young stem smooth, glabrous. Leaves: petiole 1-3 cm. Leaf blade ovate to hastate, 3-lobed, 3-8 × 2-7 cm, base cordate to sagittate, sinus depth to 1 cm, apex acute or acuminate; surfaces glabrous; venation palmate. Inflorescences on new growth, axillary, solitary flowers; peduncle bracteolate, 1-1.5 cm; bracteoles ovate to lanceolate, to 15 mm. Flowers: calyx brown-purple, straight; utricle angled upward, ovoid, 0.5-5 × 0.5 cm; syrinx funnel-shaped, 2 mm; tube upright, cylindric, 1 × 0.25 cm; annulus absent; limb brownish red, 1-lobed, lobe narrowly cordate to narrowly ovate, 1-6 × 0.75 cm, glabrous; gynostemium 5-lobed, crown-shaped, 2-3 mm; anthers 5; ovary 5-locular, 1-1.5 cm. Capsule globose to ovoid, 1.5 × 1-3 cm, dehiscence basipetal; valves 5; septa entire, not attached to valves. Seeds flat, triangular, 0.5 × 0.5 cm.

Flowering winter-early spring. Wet Caribbean-type lowlands; 0-50 m; Fla., Tex.