Herbs 15–25(–30) cm tall. Rhizome long, slender, branched, producing adventitious roots and aerial stems at nodes; aerial stems 15–30 cm, ribbed, with a basal rosette of crowded leaves, and higher up with 1 or 2 oblong-ovate sheathing, scalelike, brownish bracts. Rosulate leaves 4–7, semievergreen; petiole ca. 2 × or ca. as long as blades; leaf blade slightly green abaxially, green adaxially, slightly shiny, orbicular to ovate, (2–)3–6 × (1.5–)2.5–5.5 cm, leathery, base sometimes subcordate, margin obscurely crenate or nearly entire, apex rounded. Rachis-inserted scale-shaped leaves 1 or 2; raceme 8–15-flowered, 6–16 cm. Pedicel 4.5–5 mm; bracts axillary, imbricate, lanceolate, membranous. Flowers spreading or rarely nodding, 1.5–2 cm in diam., widely opened, fragrant; sepals ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, 3.5–5.5 mm, reflexed at tip, apex rounded; petals incurved, pure white, orbicular-ovate, 6.5–10 × 4–6 mm, rather thick, apex obtuse; stamens arched toward upper side of flower; filaments glabrous, anthers yellow, tubules present; style 7.5–10 mm, deflexed at base and facing lower part of corolla, dilated at apex into a ring. Capsule (6–)7–8 mm in diam.

Antirheumatic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, cardiotonic, contraceptive, diuretic, poultice, sedative and tonic (leaves)

Plants For A Future
Flora of China

A leaf decoction is used in the treatment of skin diseases, as a gargle and a wash for the eyes. It is used internally in the treatment of epilepsy and other nervous afflictions. It is also useful against urinary infections. A decoction of whole plant is useful against arthralgia with weakness of the loins and knees, metrorrhagia and for chronic cough.

Jing-Nuan Wu. An Illustrated Chinese Materia Medica. P: 538, Oxford University Press, Inc.2005.