Shrubs, scandent, to 3 m tall, hermaphroditic. Leaves 1-pinnately compound; petiole 2.5-10 cm; petiolules 3-5 mm; leaflets (2 or)3-5, ovate to elliptic, 2.5-7 × 1.5-3 cm, membranous to thickly papery, glabrous, abaxially glaucous, secondary veins 6-9 pairs, tertiary veins distinct on both surfaces, base rounded or cuneate, margin entire, apex acute or acuminate. Inflorescence a terminal umbel or occasionally a small panicle of 2-5(-8) umbels, pubescent; peduncle 1-5 cm; pedicels 0.8-1.5 cm, glabrous or pubescent. Ovary 5-carpellate; styles united below, divided at apex. Fruit globose to ovoid, 4-4.5 mm high, 3.5-4 mm in diam.; styles persistent. Fl. Aug-Nov, fr. Nov-Dec.

The two varieties recognized here were not retained by Wen (Cathaya 13-14: 59-64. 2002), who indicated that the characters on which they are based appear to vary randomly and do not show any geographic correlation.

Evergreen and deciduous forests, often epiphytic, sometimes parasitic; 2100-2500 m. Sichuan, C and NW Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Nepal, Thailand].