An annual herb, c. 1 m tall. Stem glabrous except for a single line of crispy hairs on purplish side of internodes, alternating at each node. Leaves membranous, 3-costate, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 5.5-7 cm long, 2-3 cm broad, with scattered simple hairs on both sides, acuminate-acute, coarsely serrate; petiole 1-2 cm long, hairy on upper side; stipules subulate, hirsute. Cymes antiphyllous, 3-flowered, c. 1 cm long. Flowers orange, c. 8 mm across; pedicel c. 3 mm long, longer in fruit. Sepals lorate, cucullate and awned at the apex. Petals spathulate, slightly smaller than the sepals, obtuse. Stamens twice as many as petals. Carpels 4;ovary globose, 4-loculed, hairy; style equalling the stamens, stigma 4-lobed. Capsule globose, glabrous, 9-11 mm in diameter including 4-5 mm long, glabrous, conical uncinate spines.

Fl. Per.: August-September.

Type: “Habitat in India orientali”.

Distribution: Pakistan, India, East Indies, Madagascar, tropical and South West Africa.