A monoecious, annual herb up to 1(—)2 m tall, stem fleshy, slightly woody at base, with few branches, glabrescent to densely armed with short irritant hairs and long glandular hairs. Leaves ovate to broadly ovate, (3—)10—15(—30) cm x (2—)8—12(—21) cm, base rounded to cordate, apex acuminate, margin dentate, with scattered irritant hairs on the upper surface, petiole (2—)5—15(—20) cm long, densely covered with irritant and long glandular hairs, stipules up to 1 cm long, with few short irritant hairs. Panicle bisexual, well-branched, usually solitary, up to 20 cm x 10 cm, bracteolate, male flowers pedicellate, about 1.5 mm long, with few glandular hairs and very few irritant hairs, filaments reflexed, interfloral bracts very numerous, female flowers pedicellate, pedicel slightly winged dorsi-ventrally, glabrescent, stigma linear, unbranched, about 0.3 mm long, interfloral bracts minute, numerous; achene asymmetrically ovoid, stipitate, 1—2 mm x 1—2 mm, partly surrounded by a narrow membranaceous wing, on each lateral side a triangular ridge enclosing a warty depression, perianth reflexed, pedicel often winged dorsi-ventrally. Achene dispersed with perianth and upper portion of pedicel attached.

Acts as a diuretic (plant decoction).

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

The root and stem bark are externally applied to sores on the sole of the feet.