[1] It was described by Olof Swartz and is in the family Sapindaceae in his work Nova Genera & Species Plantarum seu Prodromus descriptionum Vegetabilium, maximam partem incognitorum quae sub itinere in Indiam Occidentalem annis 1783–87 (New genera and plant species, or Preliminary description of plants, mostly unknown, which were collected during a trip to East India in 1783–1787), written by him on the results of the expedition to the Caribbean.

[4] It is a herbaceous, evergreen, fast-growing liana with a tough stem that clings to the support with antennae.

In warm climates, it reproduces by self seeding, as well as vegetatively, such as by root pieces.

Furthermore, the leaves and stems of C. grandiflorum have small reddish hairs that are lacking in C. halicacabum, which additionally has smaller flowers than those of C.

[6] Planted as an ornamental, it has been introduced to all continents except Antarctica, and is a dangerous invasive in places.