A shrub, up to 200 cm tall, young branches hairy. Leaves 3-foliolate, stipules lanceolate, 4-7 mm long, terminal leaflet ovate to obovate or rhomboid, 3.5-14 cm x 2.3-8 cm, larger than the lateral ones, subcoriaceous, upper surface glabrescent, lower surface hairy. Inflorescence a raceme, rarely branched; flowers in pairs, calyx 4-lobed, hairy, corolla pink, purple to violet-red, androecium monadelphous. Pod 30-40 mm x 2.5-3.5 mm, (6-)8-13-jointed, articles 3-4 mm long, densely covered with hooked hairs. Seeds 1.9-2.2 mm x 1.5-1.8 mm, rim-arillate.

Used as antiseptic (chewed leaves); diaphoretic (roots).

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Spat onto wounds (chewed leaves); to alleviate toothache (roots).