An annual herb, 1-3' long, often glabrescent, roots fibrous. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, hairless, 5" long and 2" across, apex acute to acuminate. Spathes are semi-ovate, 2-3 cm long, base cordate, apex abruptly acute, glabrous or pubescent, striate, upper raceme in spathe with 1—2 male flowers, lower raceme with 1—3 bisexual flowers, peduncle 1.5—2.5 cm long. Flower 2 cm in diameter, petals blue or pale blue, fertile stamens 3, staminodes 3. Capsule subglobose to oblong, 5-6 mm x 4—5 mm, 2-celled, 4-seeded. Seeds are semi-elliptical and dark brown.

Depurative, diuretic and febrifuge (leaves); antibacterial (plant extract); diuretic (aerial parts).

Plants For A Future
PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

p-Coumaric acid (flower)

Used as a throat gargle to relieve sore throats and tonsilitis (leaves); to treat bleeding, diarrhoea and fever (decoction of the dried plant); against diarrhoea and diabetes, and externally for boils and abscesses (aerial parts); applied on inflamed eyes (juice of the crushed plant).