A straggling herb or vine, 1.5—2(—6) m tall. Leaves ovate, 6—15 cm x 5—10 cm, base rounded, apex pointed, margins rather coarsely toothed, appressed-strigose on both surfaces, petiole 2—6 cm long. Inflorescence consisting of 1—3 heads, peduncle 2—8 cm long, heads up to 3 cm in diameter, involucral bracts narrowly oblong, somewhat recurved, 10—13 mm long, hairy, equalling or exceeding the disk; ligulate flowers 6—12 mm long, tubular flowers 5 mm long. Achene cylindrical-cuneate, 3.5 mm long, 3—4-angled, pappus bristles 1—2, 2.5 mm long.

Stomachic (root); emmenagogue, diuretic and slightly purgative (decoction of the fresh roots); diuretic (leaves); vulnerary and antiperiodic (decoction of leaves); violent purgative (flowers)

Bureau of Plant Industry
PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

The plant is useful in headache and fever. The leaves are used for dressing ulcers and taken internally with ginger, relieves flatulence. Crushed leaves are rubbed on the forehead to relieve headache, and drunk with water for a bad cough or malaria. The pounded stem or leaves are taken in water for diarrhoea and stomach-ache. The decoction of leaves are used against scabies and as an antiperiodic in malaria and in haematuria. The sap of the leaves is used to stop bleeding cuts and wounds. The roots are used to check vaginal discharges.