Mex- ico to Bolivia.

Plants herbaceous, usually epiphytic, scandent, the stems often greatly elongate and forming dense masses over low trees; leaves oblong to elliptic, 4-10 cm.

Long, glabrous, acute, usually has- tate-cordate at the base; flowers small, green, racemose; achene enclosed in the fleshy calyx.

Another Central American species is found on the volcanoes of Guatemala.

Herbs with narrow leaves; flowers small, green or variously colored, in spikes or racemes, the sepals not winged; stamens 3-9; fruit a small achene.