Dioecious, perennial climber, with annual aerial stem. Stem angular. Tendrils unbranched, short. Leaves simple, palmately lobed 3–5, thin, veins 3–5; petiole up to 5 cm long; blade ovate-reniform, 6–13 × 4–9 cm, base cordate, margins denticulate. Flowers solitary in leaf axils, yellow, up to 5 cm in diameter. Male flowers up to 12 cm long, with long peduncle, subtended with apical, reniform bract, c. 2 cm long; pedicel short, c. 2.5 mm long. Calyx tubular, 5-lobed, lobe ovate, apex emarginate. Corolla 5, petals free; stamens 3. Female flowers solitary, peduncle 6–7 cm long, bearing small bract at base, perianth the same as in male flower. Ovary superior, 3-carpellate, stigma 3-lobed. Fruit a peppo, ovoid, 6–7 × 3–4 cm, longitudinally winged. Seeds 1 × 1 × 0.5 cm, grey.

Common vine in wastelands and along forest margins in northern and southern Thailand. Propagated by seed sowing. Growing plant must be supported by a firm stake.
Young fruits and shoots occasionally sold in local markets. They are cooked in curries, or steamed or boiled and eaten with nam phrik (dipping sauces).