Botany
· An erect, branched, monoecious perennial shrub, 1 to 2 m high, single cylindrical stemwith hairy branches and petioles.
· Leaves: long-petioled, alternate, broadly ovate, 10 to 18.5 cm long, 6 to 14 cm wide, with tapering pointed tip, coarsely toothed margins, the upper surface green, roughened with few scattered hairs, the lower surface white, except the nerves, and densely covered with appressed, matted, white hairs.
· Flowers: small, clustered, the clusters arranged in axillary panicles shorter than the petioles. Unisexual, apetalous. Staminate (male) flowers with 4 calyx lobes which are green in color. Stamens 4.

Distribution
Naturalized and cultivated in the Philippines, in places with uniform rainfall all year round.
Propagation through cuttings from the rhizomes and by seeds.

Parts utilized:
Roots, stems and leaves

Properties
Mildly bitter and sweet tasting, cooling.
Antipyretic, diuretic.

Folkloric uses
· Regulates placental movement, hemostatic; for cold fever, urinary tract infection, nephritic edema, edema among pregnant women, abnormal placental movements, and excessive menstrual flow: 15.6 to 31 gms dried material in decoction.
· Pounded fresh leaves may be used as poultice for swelling pains caused by sprains.

Availability
Wild-crafted.