Distribution: Native of Madagascar; now naturalised in the tropics
Description: Perennial herbs. Leaves elliptic-obovate, base cuneate, apex obtuse or rounded, glabrous. Flowers pink or white, axillary, solitary or paired, shortly pedicellate. Follicles 2-3 x 0.2-0.3 cm, linear, puberulus; seeds many, black.
Habit: Herb
Habitat: Grown as ornamental plants also naturalised
Flowering & Fruiting: August-January
Parts used: Whole plant
Properties & Uses: Anti-cancerous, anti-diabetic and anti-bacterial. The whole plant is used for the treatment of blood cancer, diabetes, hypertension, asthma, skin and cardiac diseases. Alkaloids extracted from the plant is used for the treatment of cancer in modern medicine.