Tuber globose to broadly ellipsoid, 1-2.5 cm high by 1.5-5 (-8 cm, once observed) by 1.3-3 cm, fleshy, sordidly light brown with an apical cavity from which the leaves and inflorescences emerge. Leaves 1-3(-5), broadly reniform or semi-orbicular in outline, 3-13, usually 4-8-palmatipartite, 7-36 by 7.5-40 cm; base attenuate; lobes (narrowly) obovate, elliptic, or (linear) lanceolate, 6-25 by (0.5-)1-10 cm, with attenuate base and acuminate apex, the outer lobes mostly smaller than the inner ones; petiole (12-) 15-60 (-75) by 0.1-0.4 cm, sheath 2.5-7.5 by 0.3-0.8 cm. Inflorescences 1 or 2 (or 3), up to 30-flowered; scape 20-80 by 0.2-0.5 cm. Involucral bracts 4, decussate, green tinged with violet; 2 outer ones (broadly) ovate, 2.5-9.5 by 2-9 cm, sessile, apex acuminate; inner ones broadly ovate or cordate, 4.5-10 by 2.5-6 cm, with inflexed margins in the basal part, base attenuate, apex acuminate, sometimes caudate. Flowers 6-17 by 5-10 mm, green, tinged violet brown, brown violet, or dark violet; pedicel 10-20 by 0.5-1 mm; perianth tube 2-5 by 4-8 mm. Perianth lobes: 3 outer ones (broadly) ovate, rarely elliptic, 2-6 by 2.5-6 mm, obtuse or rounded at the apex; 3 inner ones with an acuminate apex, 3-5 by 2-4 mm, inflexed, each composed of a triangular basal portion of 0.5-1.5 by (2-)3-4 mm, connected by a narrower part of 1-2 by 1-2 mm to a (sub)circular apical portion of 1.5-2.5 by 2-3 mm, the side lobes of which are reflexed. Stamens: adnate portion of the filaments up to 2.5 by 3 mm, free apical portion up to 2 by 2 mm; thecae up to 2 mm long. Ovary 2-5 by 1-4 mm; disk absent; style 2 by 2 mm; stigma lobes 1.5-2 by 2 mm. Fruit globose, up to 1 cm ø, mostly with 3 distinct and 3 indistinct ribs, bright red, pericarp up to 1 mm thick. Seeds up to 11 in each fruit, more or less pyramidal with a rounded base, 3-5 by 2-4 by 2-3 mm, 15-20-ribbed.
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A herb which has tubers and is dormant for part of the year. It grows 40 cm high. The leaves are at the base and are divided like fingers on a hand. They have 5 lobes. The leaves are 15-20 cm long. The leaf stalks is 30 cm long. The flowers are black to purple. They are nodding. The 2 main bracts are erect. There are 2 smaller bracts below. There are no threadlike bracts.
Uses. In Malesia in different places used as a drug, generally in the form of scrapings of the tuberous rhizome, which are of a bitter taste. These scrapings are laid on wounds, e.g. caused by snake bites. Crushed petioles and scrapings are blaid on the stomach to prevent aches. In the Philippines the drug is also taken by women against menstrual disorders.
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