It is a shrub or small tree with rough and 4-angular branches. Leaves are petioled, opposite, ovate, entire or with distant teeth and acute with rounded or cuneate base. The flowers are very fragrant and are borne in small sessile bracteate heads disposed in terminal trichotomous cymes. Calyx is ovoid-cylindric tube, orange-red with white and spreading; 4 to 8 lobes which are imbricated in bud and patent. Anthers are 2, sub-sessile and inserted near the mouth of corolla tube. Ovary is 2 celled with one ovule in each cell. The capsules are orbicular, compressed and about 0.7 to 1.2 cm long. Seeds are erect, orbicular and flattened.

Laxative, diaphoretic, cholagogue, antiinflammatory (leaf juice); expectorant (bark).

Nycatanthoside, nyctanthic acid, beta-amyrin and friedelin (leaf); naringenin (stem); “arobrtristosides” A and B (seed); beta-sitosterol (stem and leaf).

In sciatica, rheumatism and fever, as an antidote for reptile venoms (leaf); skin diseases (seed paste or powder); as an application for dandruff and other scalp conditions (powdered seeds).

Do no use if pregnant.

Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.