Shrubs 1-2 m tall, few stemmed. Young stems and inflorescences pubescent. Petiole ca. 1 cm; leaf blade narrowly lanceolate, 5-l0 × 0.6-1.5 cm, adaxially sparsely pubescent, abaxially hairy along midvein, both ends tapering or acute. Peduncle 2-4.5 cm, short hairy. Pedicel 1.5-2.5 cm. Sepals lanceolate. Corolla white, 1.4-2 cm in diam.; lobes ovate, 8-10 mm, reflexed, margin densely bearded. Corona lobes white, inner margin of hoodlike apex with 2, short, recurved or straight cusps, with a large adaxial nectary. Follicles obliquely ovoid to subglobose, 6-8 × 2.5-5 cm, base oblique, apex rounded, beakless; pericarp with soft bristles or spines, minutely tomentose when young, glabrescent when ripe. Seeds ovate, ca. 5 mm; coma shining white, ca. 5 mm. 2n = 22.

Cultivated for medicine.

Cultivated for medicine in S Guangdong and Hainan [Africa; widely introduced].