Description
· An erect or ascending, branched, glandular herb, often nearly 1 m high. Stems angled, smooth or glandular-pubescent.
· Leaves: oblong to oblong-lanceolate 3 to 10 cm in length, with a rank aromatic odor when crushed and with lobed margins.
· Flowers: small and spicate, regular, perfect. Sepals 5, sometimes only 3 and enclosing the utricle, which is less than 1 mm long. Petals none, stamens as many as sepals, hypogynous or somewhat perigynous, filaments distinct, anthers interse. Ovary 1-celled, free, usually depressed, styles 2 or 3.
· Fruits: utricles, the seed horizontal, smooth and shining.

Distribution
In the settled areas throughout the Philippines, cultivated and spontaneous, at medium and higher latitudes.

Parts utilized
· Entire plant.
· Collect during the months of May to October.
· Rinse, dry under the sun and compress.

Constituents
Anthraglycosides, cinnamic acid derivatives, mucins and pectins, saponins, amygdalin, ascaridol, geraniol, cymene, terpenine.

Folkloric uses
· Hookworm infections and hookworm inflammatory disease: dose for adults - 2.6 to 3 gms of dried powdered material every morning and every night daily for 3 to 6 consecutive days.
· Decoction may be used as wash for various skin diseases of the lower limbs, eczema, ulcers.
· Prepared drug is sharp and bitter tasting.

Availability
Wild-crafted.