G. herbaceum is a biennial or triennial plant with branching stems 2 to 6 feet high, palmate hairy leaves, lobes lanceolate and acute flowers with yellow petals, and a purple spot in centre, leaves of involucre serrate, capsule when ripe splits open and shows a loose white tuft surrounding the seeds and adhering firmly to outer coating.Its staple is only about 1 1/4 inch long, and it adheres firmly to the seed, which is covered with short down.

Antibacterial (leaf); stimulates uterine contractions and diuretic (aerial part); stimulates or restores normal menstrual function (root bark); expectorant, demulcent, stimulates the secretion and/or flow of milk, laxative and aphrodisiac (seed).

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Gossypol (a plant pigment) and a dimeric napthalene derivative.

As an expectorant, laxative and aphrodisiac (seed); discharges from the uterus (flower); stimulating or restoring normal menstrual function (root bark); sporadic fever and dysentery (seed decoction); applied to various skin lesions and for joints inflamed. It not only increases the contractions of the uterus in labour, but also is useful in the treatment of metrorrhagia, specially when dependent on fibroids; useful also as an ecbolic; of value in sexual lassitude. Seed oil and root bark may cause male sterility.

Sharma, Classical Uses of Medicinal Plants.