Twining climber, glabrous. Roots tuberous. Leaves 5 to 12 cm long, acute, acuminate, base deeply cordate, alternate; petiole as long as blade. Male spikes 8 to 35 cm long, solitary, rarely in pairs, slender; flowers small, in clusters; perianth segments sroadly oblong, stamens 6. Female spikes 8 to 16 cm long, soliatry, broader than leaf; flowers few. Capsule 1.5 to 2.5 x 2.5 to 5 cm.

Antimicrobial (seed extract) and antipyretic (leaf), contraceptive.

Plants for a Future

Smilagenin, diosgenin and its glycosides, epismilagenin and "alkanese" (rhizome); a strodal saponin (leaf).

Reducing fever (leaf); included in preparations of certain steroidal drugs such as cortisone, used to treat asthma and arthritis (rhizome).

Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.