A slender, erect, perennial herb, 50(-100) cm tall in natural stands and up to 120 cm under cultivation. Rhizome vigorous; root system shallow, with conical, hardly branched roots. Stem semi-woody, pubescent. Leaves opposite, subsessile, glabrescent; blade spatulate-lanceolate, 3-6.5 cm x 0.8-1.9 cm, faintly 3-veined, the margin crenulate above the middle. Inflorescence a terminal head, aggregated in panicles or small corymbs, with 2-6 flowers; involucral bracts 5, thin and narrow; flowers regular, 7-15 mm long, bisexual but self-incompatible; corolla tubular, 5-6-lobed, white; stamens 5, connective of anthers ending in an oblong appendix; pistil with 2-lobed style, lobes curved at top. Fruit an angular, glandulose achene, crowned by a pappus of about 20, filiform, scabrid setae that are shorter than the corolla tube. Seed without endosperm.

Hypoglycemic, hypotensive, cardiotonic, diuretic and antimicrobial (leaves)

Tropical Plant Database
PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, niacin, riboflavin and thiamin (leaf); steviol, stevioside (plant)

The pulverized leaves are used as an artificial sweetener or as a remedy for diabetes, obesity and for lowering blood pressure. The leaf is employed for treating cavities, fatigue, depression, sweet cravings, and infections.