Vigorous climber, evergreen, or semi-evergreen in cold districts. Stems mostly purplish and hirsute when young. Lvs dimorphic: those produced in colder weather in early spring sinuate to deeply lobed; summer lvs and those on reproductive shoots entire. Petiole to 1.3 cm long, densely hirsute. Lamina of entire lvs 2.5-12 × 1.5-6 cm, ovate-oblong, ovate or ovate-elliptic, usually deep ± shining green or sometimes yellowish green above, lighter green below, sometimes mottled yellow, densely hairy to glabrous on veins beneath; midrib above glabrous or hairy; base rounded, truncate or subcordate; apex obtuse to acute; lvs subtending fls similar but smaller, all free. Fls in axillary pairs, fragrant; peduncles 0.5-2.5 cm long, densely hirsute. Bracteoles ± oblong-obovate, much < ovaries. Calyx lobes very small, ± narrow-triangular, fringed with long hairs. Corolla 2-4.5-(5) cm long, usually white, becoming yellow after anthesis, often flushed pink on reverse, glandular-hairy outside; tube 1-3 cm long, cylindric; limb 2-lipped; single linear lobe of lower lip recurving; upper lip 4-toothed. Stamens and style < to = corolla limb. Ovaries separate. Berry (4)-5-7 mm diam., broad- ovate to suborbicular, glossy black. Seed c. 2 mm diam.