A shrub up to 1.5 m tall, branched from the base, stems drooping, sometimes rooting. Leaves oblong, 5-15 cm x 2-8 cm, petiole not auriculate. Inflorescence a rather sparsely flowered spike, not corymbose, rachis glabrous, 10-30 cm long; flowers with calyx about 1 cm long, covered in glands, red, corolla tube 2.5-4 cm long, lobes 2-3 cm in diameter, distinctly mucronate, red. Fruit is long, sharp, slimy, which contains a seed in it that is long.

Acts as a counter-irritant and abortifacient (roots); vesicant (root-bark); emmenagogue, stomachic and carminative (dried roots).

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Used as a poultice for rheumatism, paralysis, tumours, toothache and swollen glands, and cut into thin slices and applied to the head for headache and to the skin for skin diseases (roots); in the treatment of haemorrhoids and for purifying blood and to stimulate digestion (dried roots); in the treatment of rheumatism and headache (leaves); externally applied in the treatment of rheumatism, glandular swellings and leprosy (leaves and roots); against dyspepsia (bark).

Do not use when pregnant.