It is a small perennial herb, with an elongated tuberous rootstock with lateral roots. Sessile or short petiolate leaves occur in rosettes.
Flowers are bright yellow.
P -D glycopyranoside is present in the rhizomes. B-sitosterol and crystalline needles of sapogenin have been detected. The chloroform extract indicated the presence of alkaloids'.Curculigoside,a phenolic glycoside,has been characterized'. Other aspects of its endocrine pharmacology need to he studied. Used extensively in ayurvedic formulations for a wide variety of ailments, specially as a general tonic and as an aphrodisiac.