A twining climbing vine capable of a height of 20 feet. Leaves alternate, ovate-oblong, usually 5-8 cm (2-3.1 in) long and 3-5 cm (1.2-2 in) wide, pointed, finely serrate, usually long-acuminate. Flowers small, greenish, in terminal panicles. Fruits capsules about 10 mm (0.4 in) in diameter, splitting open and waxy-shiny orange or red when ripe.

Diaphoretic, diuretic and emetic (root); analgesic, antipyretic, astringent, cardioactive, cholagogue, depurative, emmenagogue, laxative.

Plants for a Future
The Physiomedical Dispensatory

For chronic liver and skin ailments (including skin cancer), rheumatism, leucorrhoea, dysentery and suppressed menses; to treat obstinate sores, skin eruptions etc (root); as an ointment on burns, scrapes and skin eruptions (bark)