Plant stooling rather sparsely ; pseudostems about (2.5 m) high, green or yellowish green. Upper parts of leaf-sheaths lightly black- blotched, scarcely perceptibly waxy. Leaf blades, about (1.5 m) long, 55 cm. wide, medium green above, paler beneath but scarcely glaucous ; midribs pale green above and beneath ; petioles about 30 cm. long, with prominent margins, widening from 0.5 cm. at the top to 1.5 cm. at base, spreading throughout the length and not clasping the pseudostem at base. Inflorescence at first horizontal, the bud turning down immediately after the change of sex; peduncle very minutely puberulent ; sterile bracts commonly 3, the first leaf-like with considerable development of lamina, the next tipped with lamina, the last completely bractlike but green ; basal flowers female, the number of female hands varying up to about 6, upper flowers male. Fruit bunch compact, nearly horizontal, its peduncle pubescent ; individual fruits 5 - 7 cm. long, 2 - 3 cm. in diameter, 3 - 5 angled, tapering to the base into a short (0.5 cm.) pedicel, at apex rounded obtuse with a short conspicuously angled stylar callosity. Pericarp about 2 mm. thick, greenish yellow at full ripeness; pulp white. Seeds black, warty, irregularly angulate, dorsiventrally compressed, 6 - 8 mm. across and 4 mm. high.

Diuretic, febrifuge and sialagogue (roots); diuretic (leaves)

Plants For A Future

A decoction of roots is used in the treatment of beriberi, constipation, jaundice, dropsy, restlessness due to heat, leucorrhoea and croton bean poisoning.