Velvet Leaf is a small climber with velvety branches. Leaf stalk is inserted to 2 mm from margin - it is up to 7.4 cm long. Leaf blade is 6-12 cm long, 7-14 cm broad, membranous to nearly leathery, ovate to nearly round. Flowers are borne in 5 cm long cymes in leaf axils. Male flowers are interesting - there are 4 roundish sepals, larger than the petals. The four petals are fused into a disc. Stamens arise in a central column. Female flowers have 1 sepal and 1 petal. Fruit is round, red. Velvet Leaf is native to South America, naturalized in parts of India. Flowering: August.
Medicinal uses: Velvet Leaf is known as Midwife's herb as mainly used in women aliments. It is used for menstrual problems, hormonal imbalance, ease childbirth, postpartum pain, prevent threatened miscarriage, and control uterine hemorrhages, hormonal acne and premenstrual syndrome. It is used for heart problems, kidney stones, kidney infections and pains, asthma, arthritis, muscle cramps and stomach pains.