A robust, rhizomatous, perennial herb, 40—80 cm tall, stems creeping to ascending to erect, loosely branched, glabrous or appressed pubescent. Leaves oblong to lanceolate, 8—15 cm x 1.5—3 cm, base acute, rarely rounded or cordate, apex acuminate, often with a brown blotch, appressed pubescent on either surface, at least on the veins, or glabrous above, petiole short, ocrea tubular, appressed pubescent, bristles on upper margin 1.3—2 cm long. Inflorescence 5-10 cm long, many flowered, branched raceme with 1-6 spikes in each raceme, peduncle 0.5-3.0 (-5.0) cm long, glabrous. Flowers white, 1.0-2.0 mm across, pedicel, 0.75-1.5 mm long. Ochreolae 1.5-3.5 mm long, tubular, ovate, compact, not intrerrupted, ciliate, ciliae almost the same size as that of ochreolae. Tepals 5, 1.5-2.5 x 0.75-1.25 cm, oblanceolate-obovate, obtuse, biseriate, unequal, eglandular. Stamens 5-8, filaments long, equal. Ovary 1.0-2.0 x 0.75-1.5 mm, broadly ovate-orbicular, trigonous, styles three, long, filiform and free till half of the length with capitate stigmas. Nuts trigonous, 1.8-2 (-2.25) x 1.2-1.5 mm, glabrous, black, shining.

Astringent and cooling (root).

Plant For A Future
PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Used against dysentery and cholera and relieves the gripping pain of colic (seeds); used externally in the treatment of scabies (paste of roots).