An annual or facultative perennial, unarmed herb up to 110(-200) cm tall. Leaves alternate, lanceolate or ovate to distinctly fiddle-shaped, 3-14 cm x 0.5-7 cm, base cuneate to rounded, apex obtuse to slightly acuminate, margin entire to serrulate, dull green, glabrous to sparsely pilose above, pilose below, petiole up to 3(-6) cm long, pilose. Inflorescence composed of densely clustered cyathia in axillary or terminal cymes, bracts similar to the leaves but progressively smaller and paler green, sometimes purple spotted; cyathia with 1(-2) peltate, funnel-shaped glands with a circular, 0.5-1.2 mm wide opening, anthers yellow. Capsule deeply 3-lobed, 4-5.5 mm x 3.5-4.5 mm, smooth, puberulent. Seeds truncate-ovoid, bluntly tuberculate.

Acts as laxative (leaves).

Hong Kong Flora and Vegetation
PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Used as medicine for traumatic injury (leaves and roots).