Branched small tree, bark dark coloured, scabrous, younger branches glabrous. Leaves opposite, 7-15 x 3.5–6.5 cm, glabrous, obtuse or shortly acuminate; petiole c. 5 mm long. Inflorescence corymbiform terminal panicle. Flowers sessile, c. 64 mm long, fragrant, white or scarlet. Calyx minute, teeth very small, obtuse. Corolla-tube filiform, c. 6 mm long, glabrous, lobes 4, reflexed. Filaments c. 0.5 mm; anthers ± equalling the corolla-lobes. Style densely pubescent. exserted; stigma biforked. Fruit globose, 2-seeded, somewhat didymous, black when ripe (not seen).

Fl. Per.: March-April.

Type: Andrews Repository t. 78. 1799.

Distribution: India, Bangla Desh, Ceylon and Pakistan. Cultivated in the gardens as an ornamental throughout the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent.

In Ixora pavetta Andr. scarlet flowers are reported. However, in our form the flowers are white. De Candolle l.c. recognized white from as Ixora decipiens DC. If it is an independent species the correct name for white race is Ixora decipiens DC.