A short-lived perennial, fragrant herb, somewhat glandular in all parts. Stem ascending, 30-35 cm tall, 2-3 mm in diameter, red, grooved; base trailing and forming roots at all nodes, much thicker than upright part. Leaves alternate; ocrea membranous, short, up to a quarter of the length of the internode, loosely enveloping the stem, parallel veined, each vein culminating at apex in a long silky hair, with some glandular dots in horizontal lines; petiole attached to basal part of ocrea; blade entire, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, base attenuate, apex acuminate or obtuse, green, marked with red, margins and veins, especially the midrib, with appressed, fairly long hairs. Inflorescence an axillary, long, many-flowered, narrow spike, single or in pairs or in a small cluster; bracts long and funnel-shaped, with long hairs on margins; flowers hermaphrodite; perianth pentamerous, white to purplish-pink, persistent in fruit; stamens 8; styles 3. Fruit triangular, 1.5 mm long, acuminate at both ends, smooth and shiny.

Diuretic, stomachic, febrifuge, abortifacient and anti-aphrodisiac (leaves)

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Externally the crushed leaves are applied against fever, vomiting, ringworm and phagedaena. Juice prepared from the crushed leaves is taken as an antidote against poisonous snake bite, and the bite is covered with the residue of the leaves.

Contraindicated in pregnancy.