An annual herb, 15-60(-100) cm tall, stem simple or with a few branches, hairy. Leaves ovate, (1.5-)2-10(-12) cm x 1-8(-9) cm, base truncate but narrowly long-decurrent, apex acute, with tubercules of mineralized cells and bristly hairs, petiole 1-9 cm long. Inflorescence consisting of 1 to several spike-like cyme(s), elongated, 5-20 cm long, ebracteate; calyx with patent, bristly, white hairs, corolla salver-shaped, tube 3-4.5 mm long, lobes rounded, about 1 mm long, pale-violet, blue or white, apex of carpels strongly bidentate, strongly divergent at anthesis. Fruit 2-3 mm long, fruit halves 2-celled, cells 2-locular, outer partition with one seed, inner one larger, empty.

Applied as an antipyretic and anti-inflammatory (decoction of aerial parts)

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Beta-sitosterol, campesterol, indicine, indicine N-oxide, stigmasterol, tannin (plant); heliotrine (seed).

Used against thrush, dysentery and haemorrhoids (decoction of leaves); to stop internal bleeding (leaf juice); used both internally and as a poultice to treat inflammation, swelling, sprain, contusion, pharyngitis, abscesses and rheumatism and externally for warts (whole plant); as a poultice in the treatment of herpes and rheumatism (leaves); to wash wounds and sores and taken as a gargle to relieve sore throat (infusion of leaves); used for eye diseases and as a poultice in the treatment of eczema and impetigo (roots).