2n = 22

n = 11

Gynodioecious, deciduous shrub or small tree, ± erect and bushy or lianoid; trunk to c. 20 cm thick when of tree form; bark ± peeling. Branchlets hairy when young. Petioles slender, often filiform, 0.5-5.5 cm long, ± hairy, particularly on upper side. Lamina (2)-3-8-(10) × (1)-2-4 cm, usually ovate to broad-ovate or ovate-oblong, less commonly suborbicular, elliptic or lanceolate-ovate, green above, glaucous or silvery beneath, often suffused with red or purple; midrib and sometimes main lateral veins hairy beneath; base usually broad-cuneate, truncate or rounded, occasionally subcordate; apex rounded to obtuse and mucronate, or acute to acuminate. Fls solitary or few in clusters, on young shoots or ± cauliflorous, usually pendulous; pedicels 7-15 mm long, filiform. Floral tube 8-20 mm long, ± purple. Sepals 6-14 mm long, narrow-triangular, green or purplish, eventually ± reflexed. Petals 1-5 mm long, dark purple, elliptic. Stamens of ☿ fls well-exserted; filaments 6-10 mm long, ± purple. Style 1.7-3.5 cm long, much > stamens; stigma capitate. Berry c. 10 mm long, ellipsoid-oblong, dark purple or almost black.