Herbs perennial, 60--100 cm tall. Roots brownish or brown-gray, thick, woody. Stems several, arising from root crown, dichotomously or trichotomously spreading branched, usually purple-red when mature. Leaves oblong, 4-8 × 0.5-1.5 cm, thick, subfleshy, 3-5-veined, midvein prominent, base connate into a short sheath, apex apiculate. Corymbose cymes terminal or axillary, dense, glabrous; bracts ovate-lanceolate, membranous, margin ciliate, apex caudate-acuminate; pedicel 2-5 mm, glabrous or pubescent; calyx campanulate or funnelform, 2-3 mm; lobes ovate-triangular, veins green, margin white, membranous, ciliate, apex acute. Petals pink, obovate-oblong, ca. 2 × as long as calyx, apex truncate or retuse; stamens longer than petals; ovary obovoid; styles exserted, long linear. Capsule ovoid, slightly longer than calyx. Seeds brown-gray, compressed subreniform, 1.2-1.5 mm, with striate protuberances; raphe mucronate tuberculate.

Flora of China
Plants For A Future

The root is used in the treatment of jaundice, lung diseases, rheumatism and typhoid fever.