This plant is distributed from Africa, Southeast Asia, Malaysia, and is found in the forests of India and Sri Lanka. In India, Senggugu is found in parts of the Himalayas, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and the Western Ghats. The plant has been used in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine to treat respiratory problems. Its young leaves and flower clusters can be consumed as a fresh vegetable (lalapan).

It can generally be found in secondary forests, cogon grass fields, village outskirts, roadsides, or near water where the soil is somewhat moist, from lowlands up to an altitude of 1,700 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.).

• Root: Taproot, blackish-gray color.

• Stem: Hollow, large-knobbed (nodular), slightly branched, blunt quadrangular stem, the young part is usually glabrous (smooth/hairless).

• Leaves: Simple (single), green, alternate arrangement, oblong or elliptic, serrated margin, pointed base and tip, short petiole, surface with fine hairs, pinnate venation.

• Flower: Compound inflorescence, has bracts (protective leaves), the long raceme spirals to form a large crown at the bottom, purplish-white color.

• Fruit: Berry, oval-shaped (ovoid), green when young, black when mature.

• Propagation: Generatively (seeds).

• Seed Handling: Germination usually takes 20–60 days at a temperature of 20°C. Once large enough, separate the sprouts and plant each in a pot until it is big enough to be transferred to the field.

• Treats asthma, wounds, cholera, cough, rheumatism, fever, bronchitis, tuberculosis, malaria, watery swollen abdomen (perut busung), worm infections, and clears the eyes.

• D-mannitol, terpenoids (betulin, oleanolic acid, clerodermic acid, betulinic acid, friedelin, monomelittoside), steroids, polyphenols, tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids (apigenin, 7-hydroxy flavanone, scutellarein, pectolinarigenin).