Botany
Smooth, stemless herb arising from tuberous aromatic rootstocks with fibrous cylindric roots. Leaves are horizontally spreading, orbicular to broadly ovate, 7-15 cm long, with rounded base. Flowers are few, about 4-6. with lanceolate bracts. Corolla tube is slender, 2-3 cm long with a lip cleft in the middle. Staminodes are obovate, about 1-2 cm long.

Distribution
In open grasslands at low and medium altitudes, in the Bontoc and Baguio areas, the Rizal provinces, and in Mindanao.

Chemical constituents and characteristics
Rhizome contains a volatile oil and small amounts of cinnamic acid ethyl ester, borneol, camphene, cineol, paraumarin, cinnamic acid, and anisic acid. Also contains a small amount of alkaloid. Also, a lot of starch, gum, and mineral matter.
Rhizomes are carminative, stimulant, expectorant, diuretic.

Parts utilized
Rhizomes.

Uses
Folkloric
Mumps: Chop the rhizomes. Apply directly as poultice on the swollen glands for 30 minutes 3 times daily.
The rhizome mixed with oil is an effective cicatrizant (healing by scar formation).
Leaves, topically, for sore throat.
Sliced rhizomes topically to furuncles to hasten ripening.
Poultice and lotions of leaves and rhizomes for sore throat, fevers, swellings, rheumatism.
Rhizomes used as wash for dandruff or head scabs.
Leaves used as perfume in washing hair.
Internally, decoction of rhizomes used as a tonic; also, for dyspepsia and malarial chills.
Rhizomes have been used postpartum.
Others
Plant used to flavor rice.
Rhizome is used for cosmetics, making of perfumes and protecting clothes from insects.

Availability
Wildcrafted.