An erect, simple annual herb up to 1.5 m tall. Leaves 3 to 5 foliate, densely glandular-pubescent, petioles 2.5 to 5 cm long, base cuneate, apex acute. Flowers shades of yellow or white to pinkish, 1.3 cm long, borne in axils of leaf-like bracts in lax corymbose racemes. Fruit erect glandular pubescent capsule, 5 to 12 cm. Seeds 1 mm diameter, glandular, black or dark brown.

Diaphoretic, rubefacient and vesicant (leaves); anthelmintic, carminative, rubefacient and vesicant (seeds); irritant, acrid, rubifacient and vesicant (bark).

They are used as an external application to wounds and ulcers. The juice of the leaves has been used to relieve earache. The seed contains 0.1% viscosic acid and 0.04% viscosin. Used in the treatment of ulcers and wounds, oedema, inflammation in the ear, piles, splenic, liver disorders and syphilis.

Sharma, Classical Uses of Medicinal Plants.