A glabrous shrub or woody herb up to 3 m tall; stem with thickened nodes. Leaves decussate; stipules linear, 1.5 mm long; petiole up to 1.5 cm long; blade elliptical-oblanceolate to lanceolate, 2-20 cm x 1-8 cm, cuneate at base, margin sharply serrate or serrate-dentate, apex long acuminate. Inflorescence a terminal raceme, consisting of opposite spikes each up to 5 cm long with up to 13 flowers; flowers bisexual, without a perianth; the male part reduced to a club-shaped organ with 2 thecae implanted upon the ovary; ovary flask-shaped to subglobose, 1-locular with a single ovule, stigma sessile. Fruit a red or bright orange or rarely black drupe, 9-15 mm x 7-10 mm.
Health Remedies 
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