A shrub up to 2 m tall, branches stout, finely pubescent, leaf scars large and prominent. Leaves broadly ovate, 6—29 cm x 5—28 cm, base cordate to subtruncate, apex sharply acute or acuminate, margin usually coarsely and irregularly dentate, sometimes 1—3-lobed, lightly strigillose-pubescent on both surfaces, petiole 2—24 cm long. Flowers white to pink, fragrant, c. 2 cm across, shortly pedicelled; bracts foliaceous, oblong or elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, pubescent, persistent. Calyx campanulate, pubescent, 5-lobed; lobes lanceolate with glands on the margins. Corolla double, salverform; tube 1-1.5 cm long; lobes 5, obovate, spreading. Drupe rarely developed.

Diuretic, antibacterial and antiphlogistic (roots); antiseptic (decoction of roots); diuretic and antiblenorrhagic (leaves)

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Used as a fomentation for rheumatism and ague (plant); in the treatment of abdominal pain and intestinal diseases, kidney dysfunction, women's disorders, skin afflictions, lumbago, hypertension and jaundice (root); used for blenorrhoea (decoction of leaves); as a herbal bath for children with furuncles (leaf juice)