An erect or ascending shrub, 30-200 cm tall, usually unbranched, with a strong taproot, stems terete or obtusely quadrangular. Leaves ovate or obovate-oblong to spatulate, 4-30 cm x 2.5-20 cm, base cuneate, apex obtuse, thickly coriaceous, margins crenate, pale green, glaucous or variably tinged with purple, petiolate. Inflorescence up to 30 cm long; flowers with calyx lobes fused basally, 4-12 mm x 3-4 mm, acute to attenuate, corolla tube 8-16 mm long, distinctly widened downwards, (orange-)yellow above the greenish base, corolla lobes oblong-lanceolate to elliptical, (4-)8-12 mm x (2-)3-4(-5) mm, patent or subreflexed, after anthesis erect and twisted together, mucronate, anthers either all included or those of the upper series slightly exserted, carpels free or subconnate at the base, glabrous.

Used for its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and counter-irritant properties (juice of leaves); abortifacient (roots).

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

The juice obtained by squeezing the leaves that have been passed over fire slightly, is most commonly used for the treatment of headache, general debility, dysentery, smallpox, convulsions, stiff joint and rheumatism. One or two drops of the leaf juice are dropped into the ear for earache. A poultice of the leaves is applied over wounds and sores. The leaves can be boiled in water and the extract given as a sedative for asthma and palpitation. Also, the leave juice mixed with salt and honey is a remedy for chronic cough. The extract of dried leaves is applied to septic wound. The root is prescribed for gonorrhoea and to expel intestinal worms.