A large perennial twiner, 5—30 m long, rarely precumbent, stems terete, fistulose or pithy, glabrous, with milky juice, tuber large. Leaves peltate, broadly ovate to orbicular, 7—30 cm in diameter, base rounded, apex acuminate, mucronulate, petiole 3—20 cm long. Flowers in a 2—many-flowered corymb up to 40 cm long, peduncles 1—2 together, stout, bracts caducous; flower-buds narrowly ovoid, acute, pedicel 1.5—2.5 cm long, clavate in fruit, sepals subequal, 15—25 mm long, outer ones broadly ovate, apex obtuse, corolla broadly funnel-shaped, 4.5—6 cm long, shallowly lobed, white, sometimes yellow, corolla inside above the insertion of filaments with a semi-circular thickening, filaments dilated and hairy in lower part, anthers spirally twisted, hairy. Capsule ovoid. Seed densely yellowish to dark brown, tomentose.

Purgative (sap from the stem and tuber)

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Diluted sap from the young stems is used as eye or ear drops. The sap from the stem and tuber is used as a remedy for cough, diarrhoea and worms. The leaves are applied as a maturative for inflammation of the breasts. It is also used for washing hair, as they are cooling, improve growth and prevent hair loss. The tubers are purgative in decoction, and are used to treat uterine haemorrhage. A drink made from the juice of the leaves is reputed to be taken for the treatment of hernia, and the heated leaves are applied as a poultice.