Perennial subshrub, woody at base, 30-60 cm tall, young branches pubescent. Leaves oblong or oblanceolate, membranous, 2.5-6 x 1.5-3 cm, entire, obtuse or mucronate, base obtuse or cuneate, glabrous or sparingly hairy specially on nerves beneath, shining green above, paler below, lateral nerves obscure; petiole short, 3-10 mm long, with many glands at the axil. Inflorescence of axillary 1-4 flowered cymes, Flowers pink or white, pedicel 1-3 mm long. Calyx tube short, lobes linear acute, 5-7 mm long, hairy. Corolla tube 20-25 mm long, sparsely pubescent above, throat densely hairy within below the stamens, lobes oblong-rounded, or obovate, 15-25 mm long spreading Disc scales higher than ovary, c. 2-3 mm long. Ovary pubescent; style c. 2.5 cm long; stigma pentagonal. Follicles 2, slender, cylindric, striated. 15-25 mm long.

Fl. Per.: Throughout the year.

Type: Cult. England, Chelsea garden, Miller 1849 (BM-lecto, designated by Stearn).

Distribution: A native of Madagascar, widely cultivated and naturalized in tropics and subtropics of both hemisphere.

An extract from the root is used for the cure of blood cancer. Flowers are also used as a remedy for diabetes.