A shrub, 0.5—2 m tall, stem 1.5—2 cm in diameter. Leaves elliptical to narrowly elliptical, 4—23 cm x 1—8.5 cm, 2.2—4.5 times longer than wide, apex acuminate, petiole 2—20 mm long. Inflorescence lax, 2—12 cm x 2—5 cm, 2—15-flowered; flowers fragrant or not, open during the night, sepals pale green, leafy, corolla in mature bud 14—26 mm long with a wide broadly ovoid head for 20—35% of the length, apex blunt, tube 1.8—4(—6) times longer than the calyx, (9—)13—22 mm long, twisted 0.5 turn or not just below the anthers. Fruit consisting of 2 separate mericarps, pod-like, orange or red, several-seeded, dehiscent.

Astringent (infusion of the bark or root).

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

The leaves pounded with turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) and rice are used as a poultice against itch and eczema. A steam bath of the leaves is applied for syphilitic afflictions. An infusion of the bark or root is used against dysentery. The latex of the root is used against diarrhoea, dysentery and externally applied on abscesses.