Shrubs climbing. Stems terete, densely gray to white tomentose. Leaves large; petiole 2-5 cm, densely tomentose; leaf blade cordate to ovate-cordate, 3.5-10 x 2.5-8 cm, papery, abaxially densely gray to white tomentose, adaxially densely strigose, veins palmate, 2-3 pairs from base, base cordate or auriculate, sinus 1-2 cm deep, apex obtuse or acute. Flowers solitary; peduncle pendulous, 1.5- 3 cm, densely tomentose; bractlets ovate to oblong, 5-15 x 3-10 mm, inserted on basal 1/3 of peduncle; calyx yellowish with purple veins, throat purple, 4-5 cm; tube geniculately curved, abaxially densely white tomentose on tube; basal portion of tube 5-15 x 3-6 mm; limb discoid-rounded, 2- 2.5 cm in diam., shallowly 3-lobed; lobes broadly ovate; anthers oblong, ca. 1 mm; gynostemium 3-lobed. Capsule cylindric to ovoid-cylindric with ribs undulate, ca. 3.5 x 1.5-2 cm, dehiscing basipetally. Seeds ovoid-deltoid, ca. 4-3 mm.

Diuretic (flowers); anodyne, antiphlogistic and carminative (whole plant)

Plants For A Future
Earthnotes Herb Library

Aristolochic acid (plant)

Whole plant has been used for cancer, for arthralgia with painful joints, dysfunction of the tendons and bones, injury and wounds with swelling and pain. It has also been used to reduce swelling, for intestinal gas, stomachache and toothache.