A decidious shrub growing to 1.2m. Leaves opposite, decussate, sessile, punctate, glabrous, oblanceolate, rounded at apex. Flowers petals 4, yellow, 7-8mm long, 2.5-3mm broad, glabrous, blunt to acute at apex, lying flat on large sepals below, in two opposing pairs. Stamens +/-20, erect. Filaments 3-4mm long, filiform, yellow, glabrous. Anthers yellow-orange, .1mm in diameter. Ovary superior, flattened-ovoid, 3mm long, 1.5mm broad at base, glabrous. Styles 2, .5mm long. Sepals 4, in two pairs. One pair of sepals much larger than second pair, to 7.5mm long, 5mm broad, ovate, acute, glabrous. Small pair of sepals 1mm long, scalelike, acute, decussate to larger sepals. Fruit an ovoid capsule, many seeded.

Antidote (root)

Plants for a Future

An antidote to rattlesnake bites, in the treatment of colic, fevers, pain, diarrhoea, to ulcerated breasts (root); for kidney and bladder ailments, skin problems and children's diarrhoea (leaves)