An annual or facultative perennial, unarmed herb up to 1.5 m tall. Leaves alternate, ovate or lanceolate to fiddle-shaped, 4-10 cm x 1-5 cm, base cuneate to rounded, apex obtuse or acute, margin entire to serrulate or dentate, glossy green, lower surface pilose, petiole up to 1.7 cm long, glabrous or sparsely pilose. Inflorescence a terminal, clustered cyme of cyathia, bracts similar to the leaves but progressively smaller, with a red blotch at base or entirely red; cyathia with 1(-2) peltate, funnel-shaped glands with an elliptical, 2 mm wide opening, anthers yellow. Capsule deeply 3-lobed, 4-5 mm x 3.5-5 mm, smooth. Seeds ovoid, sharply tuberculate.

Acts as emetic and cathartic (roots)

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Used to treat ague (decoction of roots and bark); applied against erysipelas and corns (latex).