A perennial herb, 30—150 cm tall, sparingly branched, stem reddish, taproot carrot-like, 20—30(—150) cm long. Leaves simple, basal or cauline, alternate, opposite, or whorled, generally entire; stipules 0 or obvious and fused into a generally scarious sheath around stem. Inflorescence small cluster, axillary or arrayed in cymes or panicles; involucres sometimes subtending 1–many flowers; flower generally bisexual, small, ± radial; perianth generally 5–6-lobed, base ± tapered, often jointed to pedicel; stamens 2–9, often in 2 whorls; ovary superior, styles generally 3, generally fused at base. Fruit achene, generally enclosed by persistent perianth, generally 3-angled, ovoid, and glabrous.

Acts as a gentle and safe laxative (plant); alterative, antiscorbutic, astringent, cholagogue, depurative, laxative and mildly tonic (root)

Plants For A Future
PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Ascorbic acid, avicularin, beta-carotene, hyperoside, niacin, quercetin, quercitrin, riboflavin, rutin, thiamin (leaf); rumicin (plant); chrysophanic acid, emodin, erucic acid, nepodin, oxalic acid, physcion, tannin (root).

Taken for fever (plant); a vapour bath of the leaves is used to relieve the eyes; used internally in the treatment of constipation, diarrhoea, piles, bleeding of the lungs, various blood complaints and also chronic skin diseases, and externally, mashed and used as a poultice and salve, or dried and used as a dusting powder, on sores, ulcers, wounds and various other skin problems (root); used in the treatment of diarrhoea (seed).

People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition.