Life cycle: Climbing or trailing annual, biennial or perennial vines.

Leaves: Alternate, pinnately compound with several pairs of opposite, narrowly oblong leaflets. The terminal leaflet is modified into a branched, twining tendril used to climb.

Stems: Ascending, climbing or trailing stems are herbaceous but may become woody with age.

Flowers and fruit: Blue, purple or reddish pealike flowers are borne on short stalks in the upper leaf axils or found crowded along one side of long, bare stalks. Fruit are variously sized pealike pods.

Reproduction: Seeds or rhizomes.