An annual twiner, 1—3 m long, sometimes prostrate, terete, softly pubescent or glabrescent, young parts with milky juice. Leaves ovate to oblong, 4—12(—16) cm x 1—6.5(—9) cm, base cordate, rounded or truncate, basal lobes rounded or angular, apex acuminate, both sides sparsely to densely hairy, petiole 1.5—6 cm long. Cymes few- to many-flowered, umbelliform, peduncle 1—4(—7) cm long, bracts minute, caducous; flower-buds ovoid, pedicel 5—9 mm long, sepals subequal, concave, broadly elliptical or orbicular, 5—7 mm long, corolla funnel-shaped, 2—3 cm long, white, rarely yellow to orange, middle part mid-petaline bands hairy, anthers straight. Capsule ovoid to conical, 10—12 mm high, mucronate by style-base, glabrous or sparsely hairy at top. Seeds 5 mm long, densely hairy with soft, patent hairs.

Aperient and alterative in cutaneous diseases (seeds); purgative (latex of root); deobstruent, a diuretic, and alterative (decoction of plant)

Bureau of Plant Industry
PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Pounded leaves are used to poultice burns, sores and scalds. A poultice of the leaves, together with Curcuma powder (Curcuma longa L.) is applied on cracks in the soles of the feet. A decoction of the roots is drunk as a remedy for haematuria. The decoction of plant is useful in treating useful in rheumatism, neuralgia and headache, and used as ear drops for auricular ulcers, abscesses etc. The powder of leaves is sniffed for epilepsy. The leaves are used as an emollient for abscesses and ulcers.