A perennial herb, growing to 3-8 feet tall. Stem erect, covered with fine star-like pubescence or nearly glabrous. Leaves alternate, simple, lanceolate to ovate, to 9 inches long, 1.25 to 3.5 inches wide, (about 2.5 times as long as wide), unlobed or middle and lower blades obscurely lobed; upper surface dark green, glabrous; lower surface covered with fine star-like pubescence; margins coarsely to shallowly toothed; bases rounded to nearly heart-shaped; tips tapering to points; stalks slender, up to 2 inches long. Inflorescence, solitary flowers in leaf axils; flower stalks jointed near or above the middle, fused to the subtending leaf stalk for a portion of their length; calyx subtended by 8-12 bracts; sepals more or less united; corolla 4-8 inches wide; petals 5, white or cream-colored with red or purple bases; stamen column about .75 inch thick, bearing anthers along the sides; style about 2.5 inch long. Capsule, egg-shaped, around 1 inch long, mostly glabrous, tapering to an erect beak, enclosed by the enlarged, persistent calyx.

Demulcent and emollient (leaves and roots)

Kansas Wildflowers And Grasses
Plant For A Future

The leaves and roots are used in the treatment of dysentery, lung ailments and urinary ailments. An infusion of the dried stalks has been used in the treatment of inflammation of the bladder.