Annual or perennial, erect or scrambling herbs; stems angled but not winged. Lvs pinnate, tendrilous or mucronate, very rarely with a terminal leaflet; leaflets usually pinnately veined, opposite or alternate, in 1-many pairs; stipules simple or toothed. Infl. axillary, racemose, 1-many-flowered. Calyx teeth 5, subequal or upper shorter, < 2× as long as tube. Staminal tube oblique at apex; stamens diadelphous. Style linear, not contorted, variously hairy; ovules numerous, rarely 2. Pod compressed, 2-valved; seeds globose or rarely compressed, with long or short hilum, smooth or rough.