A decidous, climbing shrub or perennial herb to 20 m. Leaves: petiole 4-6 cm. Leaf blade reniform, 7-34 × 10-35 cm, base cordate, sinus depth 1-4.5 cm, apex obtuse to acute or acuminate; surfaces abaxially glabrous to slightly puberulent; venation palmate-pinnate. Inflorescences on new growth, axillary, solitary flowers; peduncle bracteolate, 3-7 cm; bracteoles reniform, to 15 mm. Flowers: calyx yellow-brown marked with red-brown, strongly curved; utricle pendent, globose to cylindric, 0.5-1.5 × 0.8-1 cm; syrinx absent; tube curved or bent and angled upward, cylindric, 1-3 × 0.3-0.5 cm; annulus smooth; limb yellow to brown, 3-lobed, lobes 1.5-2 × 1.5-2 cm, glabrous; gynostemium 3-lobed, globose to crown-shaped, 4 mm; anthers 6; ovary 3-locular, 3-7 cm. Capsule ovoid to cylindric, 6-8 × 4-10 cm, dehiscence basipetal; valves 6; septa entire, not attached to valves. Seeds flat, triangular, 1 × 1 cm. 2 n = 28.

Antiseptic (plant)

Plants For A Future
Wildflowers of the Southeastern United States

The root is used, in very small doses, as a tea or chewed for digestive disorders, fevers, to promote sweating, treat suppressed menses and increase appetite. A decoction of the root has been used externally to treat swelling of feet and legs. A compound infusion of stalk chips has been used in the treatment of yellowish urine.