Scandent or suberect shrub; branchlets pubescent. Leaves opposite or in whorls of three, entire, elliptic or broad elliptic to sub-orbicular, obtuse or acute, very variable in size, up to 9 cm long and 6 cm broad, glabrous, shining above; nerves prominent beneath; petiole short, pubescent. Flowers fragrant, in few-flowered terminal cymes, pedicels up to 6 mm; bracts linear, up to 6 mm long. Calyx teeth 5-9, c. 1 cm long, V-shaped, pubescent. Corolla white, simple or double, tube 1 cm long, lobes 5-9, oblong, acute or obtuse, or orbicular under cultivation, 1.5 cm long. Berry simple or didymous, globose, 6 mm in diameter, black when ripe, surrounded by the suberect subulate calyx teeth.

Fl. Per.: warm season.

Type: “Habitat in India” Linn.

Distribution: Bengal to Ceylon and Burma, 0-600 xn. Much cultivated throughout India and Pakistan and in the tropics of both hemispheres.

The sweet scented flowers are made into garlands for sale.