A shrub that grows to a height of 3m. Stems are 3mm in diameter, quadrangular, and hirsute at the nodes. Internodes are 2cm long. Leaves are simple, opposite, and exstipulate. Petiole is 1.7cm × 1.5 mm and pilose. Blade is 13cm – 10.5cm – 8.5cm × 3cm – 1.2cm – 1.4cm × 4.3cm. Secondary nerves are prominent below the blade, hairy, and sunken above. Flowers are 5-merous, mauve, solitary axillary, or arranged in few-flowered cymes. Petals are 2–5cm long and membranous. Androecium consists of 10 stamens with connectives. Fruits are 2cm long and red, covered with spreading bristles, and a 1.5–2.5cm-long dehiscent capsule.

Astringent (roots and fruits)

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Used to treat diarrhea, dysentery and genital infections (decoction of the aerial parts); to invigorate (roots); used for vertigo and weakness (juice of roots); leucorrhoea (roots and fruits).

Christophe Wiart. Medicinal Plants of Asia and the Pacific, P:141-142, CRC Press, June 2006.