Stems erect, slender, 20–36 cm tall. Leaves 25–35 cm × 2–3 mm, upper flattened, lower keeled or trigonous on abaxial side. Panicles 7–15 cm long, main axis consisting of 5–7 staminate heads and 2–3 pistillate heads, usually with 1 lateral branch at base; lateral branch 5–8 cm, with 2–3 staminate and 1–2 pistillate heads. Perianth segments of male flowers spathulate, ca. 2 mm, lobate at apex; filaments ca. 2 mm; anthers oblong, ca. 1 × 0.3 mm; perianth segments of female flowers spathulate, ca. 2 mm, lobate at apex; ovary sessile; styles ca. 0.5 mm; stigmas unilateral, ca. 1.5 mm. Fruit obovate, ca. 4 mm.

Abortifacient, emmenagogue and stomachic

A decoction of the root is used in the treatment of amenorrhoea, abdominal pain and bloating, and abdominal swellings.

Jing-Nuan Wu. An Illustrated Chinese Materia Medica. P: 602, Oxford University Press, Inc.2005.