A monoecious, annual herb up to 2 m tall, woody at base, with irritant hairs towards the apex. Leaves ovate to broadly ovate, (5—)8—12(—18) cm x (3—)5—7(—12) cm, base obtuse, rounded to slightly cordate, apex acuminate, margin serrate, glabrous with few scattered irritant hairs, petiole (3—)5—8(—12) cm long, irritant hairs present, stipules 3—5 mm long, almost glabrous. Panicle bisexual, side-branches solitary, often suppressed, up to 30 cm long, flowers fasciculate at intervals along elongated peduncle, male flowers pedicellate, tepals corniculate, few irritant hairs present, filaments reflexed, interfloral bracts present, female flowers pedicellate, pedicel slightly winged dorsi-ventrally, glabrous except for a few irritant hairs, stigma linear, trifid, reflexed, the central branch to 0.5 mm long, interfloral bracts minute. Achenes asymmetrically ovoid, sessile, about 1.3 mm long, completely surrounded by a narrow membranaceous wing, on each lateral side a triangular ridge enclosing a warty depression, perianth reflexed, pedicel slightly or not winged dorsi-ventrally.

Acts as a diuretic (decoction of roots); used as expectorant and anthelmintic (whole plant).

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

The leaves are applied to carbuncles and rubbed externally to relieve headache and stomach-ache. A decoction of the root is taken as a remedy for coughs and asthma. The flowers are externally applied to sores on the sole of feet. The plant is used in a mixture used to reduce whooping cough.