A slender, erect or climbing shrub up to 2 m tall, glabrous or subpubescent, with distinctly annular nodes and short opposite branches. Leaves 1-foliolate, ovate to ovate-oblong, 3-10 cm x 1.5-5 cm, chartaceous, base rounded or truncate, apex acuminate, round or truncate, with pinnate venation, veins glabrous or midrib pubescent, petiole 3-7(-10) mm long. Inflorescence a sub-capitate cyme with (1-)6-9(-15) flowers, subsessile, supported by foliaceous bracts; flowers with a campanulate calyx tube 1.5-2 mm long, with 5-7 subulate teeth 1-4(-7) mm long, usually pubescent, corolla tube 10-25 mm long with 6-9 narrow ovate-oblong lobes 6-15 mm x 2-4 mm, apiculate, white. Fruit a 2-lobed berry, black.

Acts as a febrifuge (decoction of root)

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

A decoction of the root is administered after childbirth and used externally for scurvy, and as a gargle for inflamed gums. An infusion of roots is used against yaws. A poultice of leaves is applied to relieve headache and vertigo, and ague in children. The leaves are used in a mixture to reduce fever. A decoction of the leaves can be used to cure intestinal complaints and kidney stones. An infusion of the leaves can be used to treat catarrh of the bladder.