Vern.: Maror Phali.

A large shrub or small tree. Leaves oblong, obovate or orbicula, 5-10 cm long, 4-8 cm broad, irregularly toothed, often triangular towards apex, oblique and cordate or rounded at the base, shortly acuminate, scabrous above; petiole 3-8 mm long, tomentose; stipules linear, 3-7 mm long, tomentose. Inflorescence 2-6-flowered axillary cyme. Flowers 3-3.5 cm long, red, fading to lead-grey; pedicel 3-6 mm long, tomentose; bracts linear, 3-5 mm long, tomentose. Calyx bilatiate, 1-2 m long, toothed, teeth triangular, gibbous, laterally pubescent. Petals unequal, 2-3.5 cm long, upper 3 longer and narrower than the lower 2 reflexed, claw auriculate. Stamens 15, 10 fertile in 5 pairs, each pair alternating with scaly bifid 5 staminodes, exserted, 3-4 cm long, abruptly reflexed; anthers ovate, arranged in a ring around the ovary. Ovary ovoid or conical, 5-grooved, tomentose, raised on a 3-4 cm long, curved, tomentose gynophore; style curved, 5-grooved at the base. Fruit cylindric, 4-6 cm long, 3-7 mm in diameter, long beaked, splitting into 5 spirally twisted densely tomentose follicles. Seeds angular.

Fl.Per.: July-December.

Type: “Habitat in Malabaria”.

Distribution: Pakistan (N.W.F. Province, Punjab), India, Sri Lanka, Malayan Peninsula and Australia.

It is a good source of strong fibre obtained from the bark. The fruit is said to be medicinally important in the treatment of gastric and intestinal disorders.