Leaves on the upper stem typically have a pair of short tendrils at the base of the stalk these tendrils are non-functioning and do not twine around supporting vegetation. Leaves become smaller as they ascend the stem, though the lowest leaves are reduced to bladeless bracts. Edges are toothless though may be somewhat crinkly or wavy. The upper surface is hairless, the lower sparsely short-hairy.
Leaves are alternate, 2 to 5 inches long, 1 to 3 inches wide, egg-shaped, blunt to pointed at the tip, straight across to somewhat rounded at the base, on a stalk that is usually about as long as or longer than the blade. Both male and female clusters arise singly from the lower leaf axils, a flower stalk about as long as or shorter than the associated leaf stalk, with the lowest 1 or 2 clusters usually below the leaves with a sheathing, bladeless bract at the base of the stalk. Male flowers have 6 creamy white to pale yellow-tipped stamens. Female flowers have 6 sterile stamens (staminodes) surrounding a green, round ovary with a 3-parted style at the tip. Flowers are about ¼ inch across with 6 green to yellow-green tepals (petals and similar sepals). Three to 10 round to hemispheric flower clusters 1 to 1½ inches across, each on a long stalk and containing 10 to 50 flowers (usually 25 or more), with male and female flowers on separate plants (dioecious).
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