Botany
Small hairy tree, 3 to 8 meters high. Leaves are ovate to broadly ovate, 10-20 cm long, with broad, rounded, or heart-shaped base and pointed tips. The under surface of the blade is usually covered with short hairs, aromatic when crushed. Flowers are greeninsh-white or nearly white, 4-5 mm long and borne on terminal inflorescences (cymes) 68-20 cm in diamter. Fruit is fleshy, dark purple, rounded, about 5 mm diameter.

Distribution
In thickets and secondary forests at low altitudes.

Chemical constituents and properties
Leaves do not contain alkaloid, tannin, saponin or cyanogenetic substance.
Leaves yield 0.02 percent yellowish-green essential oil with a characteristic scent.
Sudorific, pectoral, carminative.

Parts utilized
Leaves and flowering tops, fresh or dried.

Folkloric uses
· Cough: Sugared decoction of leaves as tea helps loosen up phlegm.
· Flatulence (gas pains):
     Adults: decoction of leaves as tea.
     Children: Crush leaves, mix with a little coconut or cooking oil and apply on abdomen.
· Headache: Crush leaves and apply on forehead and temples.
·Tea decoction of the leaf has been used for tuberculosis.
· Chewing the roots believed to have cardiac benefits.
· Decoction of shoots used as paraciticide.
· Decoction of leaves used for bathing infants.
Culinary
Young leaves used in the cooking of "paksiw" and "bopis."
New
Decoction of leaves and flowering tops used as vaginal wash or douche; antiseptic properties make it useful for cleansing and incorporation with bath-care products.

Availability
Wild-crafted.