Vitaceae

Woody climbing perennial vines producing tendrils from the stem, opposite the leaves.

Stems with no thorns; bark tight with pale corky spots, or shredding and peeling. Leaves stalked, alternate, lobed or compound; leaflets and leaf veins originating from the base of the leaf blade and radiating outward like fingers on a hand (palmate); leaf edges with teeth; stipules initially present but falling off.

Flowers small, inconspicuous, in cymes or panicles; each flower producing pollen, seeds or both; radially symmetric. Each flower with a nectar-producing disk at its centre. Sepals 4-5, tiny, fused for most or all of their length to form a cup; often overlooked. Petals 4-5, small, separate or fused at top, often falling off as flowers open. Stamens 4-5, attached at base to the nectar disk. Carpels 2, fused to form 1 pistil at centre of the nectar disk; ovary located above point of attachment of other flower parts (superior); style 1; stigma 1, disk-shaped or head-like. Fruit berries; each with 1-4 seeds.