A monoecious, annual or perennial, ascending or erect, often half-woody herb up to 100 cm tall, without latex; stem with hooked hairs. Leaves alternate, simple, ovate to broadly ovate, 4-11 cm x 2-6 cm, cordate to cuneate at base, acute to acuminate at apex, margin dentate, hirsute, long-petioled; stipules free, lateral. Inflorescence an axillary, peduncled, bisexual, capitate cyme. Flowers unisexual, small, green, with valvate tepals; male flowers with 3-4 tepals, fused up to halfway, stamens 3-4, incurved in bud but exserted when mature, pistillode minute; female flowers sessile with 4 tepals, free or fused at base, ovary superior, 1-locular with a single ovule, style lateral, filiform. Fruit a warty, achene-like drupe, asymmetrically globular to ovoid, enclosed by the enlarged but not fleshy perianth. Seed with endosperm.

Acts as a diuretic (infusion of roots)

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Given against fevers and is effective for swollen gums when used as a gargle (decoction of roots); for irregular menstruation (infusion of roots); as a remedy against stomach-ache (chewed leaf); used to prepare a depurative medicine for women after childbirth (crushed and roasted roots).