An erect, branched, more or less hairy annual, often sub-woody shrub, 0.5—1.5 m tall. Leaves alternate, variable, orbicular or rhomboid-ovate, 2.5—8 cm long, entire or 3-lobed, the upper ones smaller, oblong to ovate-lanceolate, not lobed, base obtuse to rounded, apex acuminate, margins serrate-dentate, upper surface covered with simple hairs, green, lower surface covered with stellate hairs, greyish; petiole 0.3—7 cm long, stellately pubescent; stipules 3 mm long, early caducous. Inflorescence composed of dense axillary or terminal clusters of cymes, peduncle 2 mm long, bracteoles narrowly ovate, 1.5—2.5 mm long. Flowers actinomorphous, 5-merous; pedicel 1 mm long; sepals valvate, free, linear, 4.5—5.5 mm long, hairy outside, with apical appendages, 1—2 mm long; petals free, imbricate, narrowly obovate, 3—4.5 mm long, yellow; staminal column 0.2 mm long, with 5 rounded glands, stamens 10; ovary superior, style filiform, stigma 2-dentate. Fruit a small, rounded, indehiscent, spinose capsule, 3—4 mm in diameter, spines 1—2 mm long, hooked at the apex, glabrous. Seeds (2—)4(—6), semi-ovoid, 2—2.5 mm long.

Mucilaginous and emollient (leaves); astringent, diuretic and antihypertensive (decoction of plant or root and bark).

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

A decoction of the plant in rice water, or the root and bark, is used after diarrhoea, dysentery and gonorrhoea. The leaves and flowers are used against leprosy. A decoction of the leaves is drunk to treat internal haemorrhage or dysentery. The fruit and pounded roots are believed to promote childbirth.