An evergreen perennial. Petiole 6-18 cm, glabrous; leaf blade ovate, 4-16 × 5-15 cm, 3-sect, papery to subleathery, abaxially glabrous, adaxially sparsely puberulous to nearly glabrous on veins, base cordate; lateral segments slightly shorter than central one, obliquely ovate, unequally 2-parted; central segment petiolulate, deltoid-ovate, 3-12 cm, pinnately divided; segments 4-6 pairs, ± contiguous to each other, margin acute serrate, apex acute. Scapes 1 or 2, slightly longer than leaves, glabrous. Inflorescences 4-8-flowered; bracts linear-lanceolate, 3-parted or pinnately divided. Sepals 5, greenish yellow, narrowly ovate, 8--12.5 × 2--2.5 mm, glabrous. Petals lanceolate, 3-6 mm, glabrous, apex ± attenuate. Stamens ca. 1/2 as long as petals. Pistils 9-12. Follicles 6-7 mm, stipe 7-8 mm.

Analgesic, antidote, antipyretic, antiseptic, cholagogue, sedative and vasodilator (root).

Plants for a Future

In the treatment of diarrhoea, acute enteritis, dysentery, insomnia, fidgets, delirium due to high fever, inflammation of the mouth and tongue, leukaemia, conjunctivitis and otitis media, increases the phagocytosis of white blood cells on Staphylococcus aureus, is antihypertensive by dilating the coronary artery and blood vessels of the internal viscera, relaxes the smooth muscles of the blood vessels and excites the smooth muscles of the uterus, bronchi, stomach, intestines and urinary bladder (root).