An erect or spreading, evergreen, monoecious shrub, up to 2(—6) m tall. Leaves are ovate, (4—)7—25 cm x (2—)5—15 cm, base cordate, cuneate or obtuse, apex acute to short acuminate, margin crenate, often variegated, or twisted and distorted, petiole 1.5—12 cm long. Inflorescence axillary and single, usually unisexual; male inflorescence racemose, up to 14 cm long, densely flowered with glomerules along the axis; female inflorescence spicate, 10—14 cm long, one to several flowered, bracts deeply lobed. Fruits are depressed globose, 2.5 mm x 3 mm.

As rubefacient (leaves)

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

To soothe throat infections such as laryngitis and to treat diarrhoea and dysentery (leaf juice); for diarrhea, to regulate menstruation and externally applied to induce perspiration (leaves); to massage people suffering from fever (boiled leaves); externally applied to relieve fever, rheumatic pains, inflammations and swellings (heated leaves); drunk as a treatment for pleurisy (infusion of leaves and bark); to treat gastritis and lymphoid swellings (decoction of the leaves).