Botany
· A shrub or small widely spreading tree up to 4 m in height.
· Leaves: with 3 to 8 pairs of opposite leaflets and a terminal leaflet and lanceolate, 56 to 20 cm long, 1.3 to 5 cm wide, pointed at both ends, toothed on the margins.
· Flowers: small, cream white on terminal clusters (compound umbels) and 15 to 30 cm wide. Sometimes, called the "bridal boquet."

Properties
Acidic-tasting, neutral-natured.
Depurative, purgative, emetic, alterative, emollient, rubefacient, discutient.
Root antirheumatic, antiphlogistic, soothes muscles and invigorates circulation.
Stem and leaves sudoforic and diuretic.

Distribution
Distribution in the Philippines:
In primary forests, chiefly at medium altitudes, ascending to 2,000 m and in old clearing, damp thickets, etc. Luzon (in most or all provinces), Mindoro, Catanduanes, Leyte, Negros, Panay, Mindanao.

Constituents
Parts used
· Roots, leaves, and stem.
· May be collected throughout the year.
· Rinse, macerate, sun-dry.

Uses
Folkloric
· Leaves and roots used for disease of bones, rheumatic complaints, pains and paresthesias. Boil leaves, bark, berries and flowers (40 g) to a pint of boiling water; drink the tea twice daily. Also used for coughs, tonsilitis, asthma.
· Poultice of leaves, berries and flowers can be applied to aching parts; also, for breast swelling
· Rheumatic muscular and bone pains, sprains: use 30 to 60 gms dried roots in decoction.
· Nephritis-edema, beriberi edema: use 12 to 25 gms drug material from entire plant in decoction.
· Pruritus: use decoction of entire plant applied as external wash.

Availability
Wild-crafted.