Shrubby, 1-2 m tall. Branches purple, pubescent. Leaves with 1.5-10 cm long petioles, stipules linear to lanceolate or falcate; blade ovate to orbicular in outline, midrib or sometimes the adjacent nerves with a gland beneath, stellate and simple hairy, glabrescent, 5-7-parted; lobes linear to lanceolate, often with an entire tooth in the sinus. Flowers short pedicelled. Epicalyx segments large ovate, subentire or toothed, cordate at base, acute at apex. Calyx small, c. 5 mm long, cupular, somewhat 5-dentate. Corolla pale yellow with or without purple centre, and sometimes entirely purple, 3-4 cm long. Staminal tube 1.5-2 cm long, antheriferous. Capsule 1.5-2.5 cm across, ovoid or oblong, beaked, glabrous, pitted, 3-4-celled. Seeds with long white cotton, globular.

Holotype: Linn. Herb. n. 874.3 (LINN!).

Distribution: Tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World. It is occasionally cultivated in Pakistan.