A perennial plant growing to 0.5m. Roots fleshy, contractile. Rhizomes thick, to 30 cm or more. Leaves: petiole sheathed basally, 5-57 cm; blade thick, 10-60 ยด 7-40 cm; primary lateral veins parallel, branching apically, interprimary veins anastomosing. Inflorescences at ground level; spathe hoodlike, 6-13(-18) cm, fleshy, apex acuminate, twisted or incurved, not persisting in fruit; spadix short-stipitate, somewhat flattened dorsiventrally. Flowers covering spadix; tepals 4, yellowish to dark red-purple; stamens 4, dehiscing longitudinally; ovaries 1-locular; ovules 1. Infructescences dark purple-green to dark red-brown, globose to oblong or ovoid, 4-7(-10) cm. Seeds brown, 7-15 mm diam.
Herb Effects
Expectorant and antispasmodic (plant); antispasmodic, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, expectorant and slightly narcotic (root)
The plant is used to treat bronchitis and asthmatic conditions. The rootstock has been used internally in the treatment of respiratory and nervous disorders, including asthma, whooping cough, catarrh, bronchitis and hay fever. It is occasionally used to treat epilepsy, headaches, vertigo and rheumatic problems. Externally, it has been used as a poultice to draw splinters and thorns, to heal wounds and to treat headaches. The root hairs or rootlets have been applied to dental cavities to treat toothache. A tea made from the root hairs has been used externally to stop bleeding. An inhalation of the crushed leaves has been used in the treatment of headaches. The leaf bases have been applied as a wet dressing to bruises.
Reference
James A Duke and Maryl Fulton. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs - 2nd Edition, P: 674, CRC Press July 2002.
Health Remedies 
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