An evergreen tree, up to 24.0 m in height and c 2.5 m in girth, with a clean bole up to 12 m. Bark greyish brown; leaves variable in size and shape, 25-35 cm x 15-30 cm, entire or variously lobed, oblong, cordate or sometimes peltate; flowers large, 12-15 cm in diam., axillary, solitary or in pairs, white, fragrant; capsules oblong, 5-angled, dark brown, woody; seeds winged, brown.

Antiinflammatory, insect repellent and disinfectant (flower); anticephalalgic (bark); hypothermic and stimulates the central nervous system (leaf).

Kaempferol and kaempferide (flower); glycine, tyrosine, cystine and alanine (seed and bark); betulin (leaf).

As a tonic, as a cure for blood troubles, inflammation, ulcers, tumours and leprosy (flower); stops hemorrhaging from wounds (leaf); glandular swellings (especially in the ears and neck) (plaster from calyx); in smallpox (bark).

Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.