Fls solitary, subtended by 2 large bracts enclosing calyx, on axillary peduncles. Sepals or calyx-lobes subequal; corolla funnelform, 5-angled. Staminal filaments dilated at base. Ovary 1- or imperfectly 2-loculed and 4-ovuled. Style filiform; stigmas 2, broad. Capsule subglobose, us. 1-celled, seed glab. Twining lianes or prostrate to rambling us. glab. herbs with alt. entire or lobed lvs. Some 10 spp., mostly of temperate regions. No N.Z. sp. is endemic.

Perennial rhizomatous herbs with twining, creeping or rambling, usually glabrous stems. Latex present. Lvs petiolate, entire or basally lobed and often sagittate. Fls solitary, axillary, subtended by 2 large bracts partly or entirely concealing calyx. Sepals 5, subequal. Corolla of 5 shallow lobes, usually funnelform, sometimes campanulate, nearly always white or pink with white mid-petaline bands. Stamens 5, adnate to lower part of corolla tube, included. Ovary 1-locular or imperfectly 2-locular; ovules 4. Style included; stigma 2-lobed, included. Capsule 4-celled, ovoid to globose. Seeds usually smooth and glabrous.