A perennial herb growing to 0.15m. Rhizomes vertical, 1-2 mm in diam., internodes 0.5-1 cm. Leaves solitary; petiole 3-15 cm, glabrous; leaf blade adaxially dark green with white blotches along midvein, broadly cordate to reniform-cordate, 3-8 × 3-8 cm, abaxial surface glabrous, adaxial surface with short hairs along midvein, base cordate, lateral lobes 1-3 × 1.5-3.5 cm, apex obtuse to rounded; cataphylls reniform-cordate or obovate, ca. 1 × 1 cm. Flowers are hermaphrodite; peduncle ascending, 1-2 cm; calyx dark purple, cylindric to campanulate, 1.5-2.5 × ca. 1 cm; sepals connate beyond attachment to ovary, abaxially glabrous; tube subcylindric, 1-1.5 × 0.8-1 cm, not constricted at throat, adaxially tessellate, orifice ring less than 1 mm wide; lobes broadly ovate, 0.5-0.7 × 0.5-0.7 cm, base smooth; stamens 12; filaments much shorter than anthers; connectives slightly extended beyond anthers, rounded; ovary half-inferior; syles free, apex 2-lobed; stigmas lateral.

Anthelminthic and antipyretic (root)

Plants For A Future
Flora of China

The root is used in the treatment of goitre, coughs and fever.