Shrubs or annual subshrubs 1-2 (-3) m tall, glabrous to sparsely stellate pubescent. Leaf blades usually somewhat wider than long, 5-15 cm wide, cut usually beyond the middle into 3, 5 or 7 lobes, the lobes lanceolate to ovate, acuminate, midvein on lower surface with a basal gland, stipules 1-5 cm long. Flowers solitary or in sympodial inflorescences, pedicels 1-4 cm long, with 3 subterminal, fringed nectaries; involucral bracts ovate, usually 40-50 (-65) mm long, lacerate, the teeth 5-17, acuminate from the base and separated by rounded sinuses; calyx usually truncate, 0.7-1 cm long; petals usually yellow with a basal maroon spot, fading pinkish purple, 5-8 cm long. Capsules 3-celled, narrowly ovoid, tapering to an acute tip, (2.5-) 3-5 cm long, pitted black punctate. Seeds several per cell, distinct or connate, lint copious, white.

Abortifacient, astringent, antifungal, contraceptive, diuretic, emmenagogue, emollient, hemostatic, lactagogue, oxytocic, pectoral, uterotonic and vasoconstrictor

The plant is indicated in treating ague, amenorrhea, asthma, bronchosis, abdominal cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, nasal cancer, uterine cancer, cold, colic, cramps, diarrhea, dysentery, dyslactea, dysmenorrhea, dysuria, earache, enterosis, fever, fibroids, headache, hemorrhoids, high blood pressure, laryngosis, leukemia, polyps, pulmonosis, rheumatism, rhinosis, sterility, stomachache, strangury, tumors, UTI and water retention. Leaves used against parasites and to eliminate filaria. Flower buds are used for earache.

Contraindicated in urogenital irritation or tendency to inflammation; may sterilize men.

James A Duke and Maryl Fulton. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs - 2nd Edition, P: 660-661, CRC Press July 2002.