It is a climbing plant. Its woody, slender, hairless twining stems have minute bumps. Its thin, hairless, lance-shaped to elliptical leaves are 3.8–8.9 by 1.3–4.4 centimeters. The tips of its leaves are ae variable ranging from pointed, tapering or ending abruptly with a sharp point. The bases of the leaves are pointed. Its
petioles are 5.1–15.2 millimeters long. Its branched, hairless, sparsely-flowered
Inflorescences occur at the junctions between the leaves and stem or near the ends of stems. The inflorescences have
peduncles that are 1.9–5.7 centimeters long, and
pedicels that are 1.3–2.5 centimeters long with hairless
bracts that are 1.3–2.5 millimeters long. The flower buds, which have long tapering tips, are twisted in a spiral. Its flowers have 5 hairless, oblong to lance-shaped
sepals that are 3.8 by 1.7 millimeters with pointed tips. The 5 petals are fused at their base to form a 5.1–7 millimeter-long, bell-shaped tube. The lance-shaped, hairless lobes of the petals are 10.6–12.7 by 3.2–3.8 millimeters with tapering tips. The flowers have a ring-like structure between the petals and its
stamen called a corona. Its corona have 5 free, oval to diamond-shaped, fleshy lobes that are 0.3–1.3 millimeters long and attached half-way up the petal tubes. Its
stamen are inserted about 1.9 millimeters above petal tube's base. The stamen have rudimentary filaments and oval anthers that are 1.3 millimeters long with tapering tips. The anthers arch over the
stigma. Its slightly bumpy, slender, cylindrical, fruit are 10.2–21.6 by 0.3–1.3 centimeters with tapering tips. Its linear to oblong, hairless, dark brown seeds are 0.25 by 1.3 centimeters. The seeds are concave on one side and convex on the other. The convex side of the seeds have raised irregular lines.
Reproductive biology The pollen of
Cryptolepis capensis is shed as permanent tetrads.
Distribution and habitat It has been observed growing in forests at elevations up to 600 meters. ==References==