A perennial climber growing to 1m. Herbs glabrous except for corolla and sometimes interpetiolar lines. Roots fascicled, slender. Stems erect, to 1 m. Leaves opposite; petiole ca. 5 mm; leaf blade narrowly lanceolate, 6-13 cm × 3-9(-17) mm, papery, acuminate at both ends; lateral veins ca. 6 pairs. Inflorescences slender, racemelike; peduncle up to 1.7 cm. Pedicel 3-9 mm. Sepals ovate-oblong, 1-1.5 × 0.4-0.5 mm; basal glands few. Corolla purple, less often greenish yellow, rotate; tube ca. 1.5 mm; lobes linear-oblong, 3-5(-8) × 0.6-1 mm, obtuse, interior minutely and conspicuously villous at base, sometimes throughout. Corona lobes 5, ovate, pouched, blunt, adaxially keeled, shorter than anthers and adnate to them at base. Anther appendages rounded, covering stigma head; pollinia oblong. Stigma head convex, included. Follicles linear-lanceolate in outline, 9-12 cm × 3-6 mm, smooth, glabrous. Seeds oblong; coma ca. 2.5 cm.

Anodyne, antitussive and expectorant (decoction of dried root); febrifuge (decoction of all parts)

Plants For A Future

The roots are used medicinally for pulmonary tuberculosis, infantile malnutrition due to intestinal parasites, influenza, cough, and chronic bronchitis. A decoction of the root is used in the treatment of coughs and asthma.