A shrub or much-branched small tree, 1-4(-10) m tall; young branches hispid, with buds or short shoots producing clusters of leaves and inflorescences. Leaves are simple, alternate, obovate to spatulate, 1-6(--10) cm x 0.5-2.5(-4) cm, thick, gradually narrowing towards base, toothed or crenate towards apex, with short rigid hairs, lateral veins about 5, arching; petiole 0.1-0.5(-1) cm long, stipules absent. Inflorescence in axil of leaves or on apex of short shoots, flowers in fascicles of 2-6 or in a cyme. Flowers actinomorphic, bisexual, (4-)5-merous, pedicelled; calyx 3-6 mm long, with (4-)5 linear lobes, densely hairy inside; corolla sub-rotate, white, 6-9 mm in diameter, tube about 2 mm long, widening, lobes spreading, 2.5-4.5 mm long; stamens (4-)5 with filaments 2.5-3.5 mm long and anthers oblong; ovary superior, globose, about 1 mm in diameter, style deeply bifid, 4.5-6 mm long. Fruit drupaceous, globose, 5-6 mm in diameter, red or yellow, with 1-4 seeds, not breaking up into pyrenes. Seeds with a straight or slightly curved embryo, embedded in thin albumen.

Stomachic and antidiarrhoeal (leaves); febrifuge (infusion of leaves).

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Alpha-amyrin, beta-amyrin and baurenol (leaves).

Used as a remedy for diarrhea, dysentery and cough, and applied externally on wounds (leaves); taken against stomach troubles and cough (decoction of leaves); taken internally to clean the body after childbirth (roots); used as an antidote against plant-based poisoning and as alterative in cachexia and syphilis and also to stop the haemorrhaging resulting from the bite of the viper Echis carinatus (plant).