A glabrous, much branched shrub, up to 1.5 m tall, with axillary spines. Leaves are linear-oblong, 3—9.5 cm long, base cuneate, apex obtuse, midrib red above, petiole short, red. Flowers in small terminal, hop-like spikes, up to 9 cm long, bracts broadly ovate, 1.2 cm long, ciliolate, purple tinged, on the back with cupular glands, bracteoles lanceolate, 4 mm long; calyx lobes broadly ovate; corolla tube 3 cm long, bent at base, expanded above, lobes 5, orange-yellow, stamens 4, didynamous, 2 exserted. Capsule is ovoid, 2-seeded.

As an anti-inflammatory (leaves)

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Chewed against toothache (leaves and roots); a poultice of the leaves is put on bites of insects, snakes or dogs.