Erect annual herb up to 120(–180) cm tall; stem simple or branched, grooved or striate, glabrous or with few hairs, usually pinkish brown. Leaves alternate, simple, without stipules; petiole up to 5(–8) cm long; blade broadly ovate to narrowly lanceolate, (1–)2–8.5(–10) cm × (0.5–)1–4(–5) cm, tapering to truncate at base, acute to acuminate at apex, entire, glabrous or slightly shortly hairy below, pinnately veined. Inflorescence an axillary and terminal simple or branched spike 6.5–35 cm long, formed of distant or approximate clusters of flowers, bracteate, silvery to pink. Flowers small, bisexual, regular, 5-merous; tepals free, ovate-elliptical, 2–3 mm long, shortly mucronate; stamens fused at base; ovary superior, 1-celled, style very short, stigmas 2–3. Fruit an ovoid capsule c. 2 mm long, circumscissile, few-seeded. Seeds lenticular, c. 1 mm long, black and shining, shallowly reticulate.

PROTAbase: Celosia trigyna

The plant is used in the treatment of heart complaints. It is applied to pustular skin eruptions, sores and boils. Pulped leaves are used to treat costal pains, chest troubles, stomach-ache and urethral disorders. The plant is included in several medicinal preparations used to treat women’s disorders and diseases, including ovarian troubles and excessive menstruation. The leaves and flowers are used to treat diarrhoea.