A shrub or small tree up to 10 m tall, with white latex; bole up to 25 cm in diameter; bark smooth, often transversely fissured, pale grey and dark brown. Leaves in whorls of 3–4 or opposite, simple and entire; stipules absent; petiole 1–15 mm long; blade elliptical, up to 23.5 cm × 10.5 cm, base cuneate, apex acuminate to rounded, leathery, lateral veins straight, in 15–20 pairs, margins revolute. Inflorescence a terminal cyme, often several together, few- to many-flowered, lax; peduncle 2.5–6 cm long; bracts as long as the sepals. Flowers bisexual, regular, 5-merous; pedicel 2–11 mm long; sepals ovate, 1–3 mm long; corolla tube 8–25 mm × 1–3 mm, pale green or pale yellow, with a hairy belt below insertion of stamens, lobes ovate to elliptical, 3–15 mm long, creamy to yellow; stamens inserted in the upper part of the corolla tube, filaments short; ovary superior, consisting of 2 separate carpels, style slender, pistil head small. Fruit consisting of 2 follicles, cylindrical, each follicle composed of 1–13 drupes, orange, each drupe containing a single seed.

Tonic, diuretic and vermifuge (leaf decoction)

PROTAbase: Petchia madagascariensis

A leaf decoction is drunk to cure stomach-ache, gonorrhoea, rheumatism, gout and alopecia. It is also taken for the treatment of diseases of the spinal nerves. The crushed leaves are applied to insect stings. A decoction of the stem bark is taken against malaria.