A perennial plant growing up to 1m. Leaves are alternate, simple or compound, petiolate, sometimes very large, and usually with a sheathing base. Inflorescence is a fleshy spike or spadix subtended or commonly partially enveloped by a bract or spathe which is sometimes petaloid or brightly colored; the tiny flowers are actinomorphic, bisexual or unisexual, and are sessile or sometimes embedded in the floral axis; the perianth is nearly always absent in unisexual flowers but in bisexual flowers typically consists of 4-6 small, undifferentiated tepals that are free or connate. The androecium of a typical male flower usually consists of 2, 4, or 8 distinct or variously connate stamens that are opposite the tepals when these are present; the gynoecium of a typical female flower consists of a single compound pistil of mostly 3 but up to 15 carpels, a single style, and a superior ovary with sometimes one locule and 1-numerous parietal ovules or more frequently 3 or more locules, each with 1-numerous axile-apical to axile-basal ovules. Fruit is a berry.

Anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and anodyne (whole plant); acrid, anodyne, antibacterial, antifungal, antiphlogistic, antirheumatic, anticancer, antispasmodic, antitumor, expectorant, sedative and stomachic (root).

Plants For A Future

Benzoic acid (rhizome)

The root is used dried and in conjunction with fresh ginger, internally in the treatment of coughs with profuse phlegm, tumours, cervical cancer, epilepsy, tetanus and complaints involving muscular spasms. The fresh root is applied externally as a poultice to ulcers and other skin complaints. Traditionally, it is used against headache, coughs, sputum remedy, inflammation of the lymphatic gland in the groin, dry pleurisy and convulsions.