Size: vine, 20-40' average height at maturity
Buds: imbricate, small, sessile, ovate, petioles deciduous above base, leaving a small stump
Leaves: deciduous, alternate, palmately compound with 5 leaflets, rounded at base, about 3" long, often emarginate at tip, bluish green on top, glaucous underside, no fall color
Twigs: slender, green when young, brown when older, many lenticels, raised leaf scars
Flowers: essentially monoecious, 3 fleshy concave sepals, purple flowers in groups of 2-5, fragrant
Fruit: purple pods, often not produced on isolated plants
