[1][2][3] Species of Freycinetia are woody lianas which climb by means of adventitious roots.

Leaves are simple, long linear to ovate, sessile; they are arranged in three spirals and venation is parallel.

All species are dioecious, meaning that male and female flowers are borne on separate plants.

[citation needed] The genus was created by French botanist Charles Gaudichaud-Beaupré in 1924 to accommodate plants he collected during an exploratory voyage of the Pacific between 1817 and 1820.

[5][6]: 199  Initially, Gaudichaud included three species, namely F. aborea, F. radicans, and F. scandens.