Perennial climbing herb. Stem quadrangular, angles scabrid, other parts glabrous. Leaves 4-6 in a whorl, 4-10 x 0.5-3.5 cm, elliptic, lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, glabrous, denticulate, acute or acuminate and attenuate, midrib ± scabrid beneath; lateral obscure, petiole 2-3 mm. Inflorescence axillary and terminal paniculate cymes, peduncle quadrangular, prickly. Flowers 3-5 mm in diameter, greenish or white, pedicel c. 2 mm long, 4 angled, prickly; bracts 2, opposite, foliaceous, sessile, ellipitic or lanceolate. Calyx globose. Corolla rotate, lobes 5, lanceolate, acuminate, 2-2.5 mm long. Stamens 5, filaments short, 0.5 mm long, anthers linear-oblong, c. 0.5 mm long, dorsifixed. Disc annular. Ovary 2 loculed, c. 2 mm long; styles 2, united at the base; stigma globose. Fruit globose or didymous, 3.5-4 x 4-5 mm.

Fl. Per.: July-August.

Type: Described from ‘Monspelii & ad Danubium’ (LINN).

Distribution: India, Pakistan, Kashmir westward to Spain through S. Europe.