A short-lived perennial, extremely variable in habit, leaf shape and flower colour. Stems are numerous, 10–100 cm long, emanating from the rootstock; variable in hairiness, moderately branched and leafy; with single simple oval-shaped leaves on a short petiole 10 mm long with prominent pointed stipules. Leaves 5–65 x 3–25 mm, but generally 10 x 20 mm. Flowers are 6 mm long, reddish yellow or pale purple, borne in racemes up to 13 cm long and comprised of 6–12 flowers each. Fruit is lomentaceous, a loment, non-fleshy, 16–18 mm long, 2 mm wide. Seeds are dark red, oval or oblong, 1–1.5 mm long.

Tropical forages
PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Applied against coughs (decoction of roots); used against dysentery and colics (infusion of powdered seeds).