Gynura pseudochina (L.) DC., Prodr. 6: 299. 1838; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 3: 335. 1881. Senecio pseutiochina L., Sp. Pl. 867. 1753. Gynura sinuata DC., Prodr. 6: 301. 1838.

Herbs, perennial, erect, fleshy, 7 - 50 cm high, pubescent with tuberous rootstock; stems many from the base. Leaves in basal rosette, obovate or elliptic-obtuse, spathulate, pubescent on both the surfaces, denticulate or pinnatisect, 1 - 40 x 1 - 12 cm, cuneate into 0.3 - 8 cm long petiole; petiole thick, broad and fleshy. Inflorescence scapose, simple or 1 - 2 branched, bearing small, leaf like, dissected and auricled bracts on each branch. Capitula discoid, campanulate, bracteolate, on 0.5 - 4 cm long pubescent peduncle. Involucre campanulate; bracts greenish purple, ca 13, lanceolate, 7 - 12 mm long, suddenly expanded below the recurved tip. Florets yellow tinged, 10 - 13 mm long; limb 3 - 4 mm long, 5-lobed; lobes blunt. Achenes red to brown, 3 - 4 mm long, glabrous or sparingly pubescent. Pappus white.

Distrib. India: Sikkim and Kerala.

Sri Lanka. China, Myanmar, Indonesia and Thailand.

Notes. The tuberous roots are used both externally and internally when the circulation of blood is interfered with, particularly when the blue spot and blotches result from blows. It is also used as a cooling medicine and in leprosy.