An erect monoecious herb 10-100 cm in height. Stems longitudinally grooved, appressed-pubescent. Leaves alternate, simple, blade ovate 1-8 x 0.8-5 cm, acute to acuminate at the apex, rounded at the base; margins coarsely serrate; surfaces densely pubescent, gland-dotted; petiole 0.5-5 cm long. Inflorescence of 1-4 axillary spikes 5-30 mm long. Flowers unisexual, apetalous, the lower ones female, upper ones male. Male flowers minute, less than 0.5 mm in diameter, clustered; stamens 8. Female flowers subtended by a pubescent, sheathing, cup-shaped bract 1.5-3 mm long with a serrate margin; styles 3, divided into filiform stigmas. Fruit a pubescent, 3-lobed schizocarp 1-2 mm long, splitting into 3 one-seeded segments.

As antiseptic (leaves); as vermicide and carminative (whole plant)

Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)
PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Applied externally on boils, sores and swellings (leaves); to relieve headache (whole plant).