Tree, 2-10(-16 or even-35?) m, up to c. 30 cm ø, shrub or sometimes a straggling climber. Leaves varying from broadly ovate via elliptic, obovate-oblong and oblong to oblong-lanceolate or rarely even linear, 5-50 by 1-23 cm, thinly to thickly coriaceous or almost fleshy, sometimes bullate between the nerves; base cuneate, obtuse, rounded or often slightly to distinctly cordate; apex acute, obtuse, rounded or very often shortly to rather long acuminate; nerves usually 4-12 pairs, sunken or less often flat to very slightly prominent above, distinctly prominent beneath; reticulations lax, more or less distinctly visible; petiole ¼-5 cm, thin to stout; stipules connate into an annular, up to 0.75 cm high ocrea which clasps the twig. Inflorescences erect, nodding, or very often drooping, 2-60 cm long (incl. the 1-30 cm long, slender to robust peduncle); usually thyrsoid with decussate, spaced, nearly sessile cymes of c. 1 (the higher ones less) long-stalked flowers; by reduction spiciform if the internodes are short combined with sessile cymes and short-stalked flowers, corymbose if all cymes or at least the lower ones are long-stalked, laxly branched, and many-flowered, racemiform if the cymes are sessile and few-flowered or in the apical part even 1-flowered, or glomerulous if the whole inflorescence is reduced to 5-7 flowers crowded on a long stalk; pedicels (0-)0.75-3 cm, thin to stout, 2-bracteolate at the base. Calyx campanulate to subglobose, 0.75-1.5 cm, divided about halfway down or slightly deeper. Corolla-tube 2-4 cm, funnel-shaped. Anthers rather thick oblong, c. 3.5 mm long, cells free in their basal half. Stigma (broadened) obconical, up to c. 1.5-2 mm broad, subtruncate, faintly 2-lobed. Berry globose-ellipsoid-ovoid, tipped by the very short but distinct style-base, up to 2.5 cm long, said to be sky-blue (or red?) when ripe.
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Shrub to small tree, 2–10 m high. Leaves with stipules remaining connate, forming collar around branchlet; petiole 10–20 mm long; lamina ovate to broadly elliptic, 14.5–21 cm long, 5–8 cm wide, often almost cordate at base, acute to apiculate; midrib raised on lower surface; veins distinct. Inflorescences terminal, usually thrysoid with many decussate, ±sessile cymes of c. 7–10 flowers (occasionally long-pedicellate, laxly branched and many-flowered); bracts present at base of peduncles and pedicels, broadly[?] triangular, minutely fimbriate on margin, obtuse. Calyx 3.5–4 mm long. Corolla broadly funnel-shaped, 20–40 mm long, white; tube c. 15–20 mm long, c. 12–15 mm wide at mouth. Stamens inserted c. halfway up tube, slightly exserted. Gynoecium 15–20 mm long; stigma not lobed. Fruit 1–2.5 cm long, sky-blue (or ?red) at maturity.
Light to dense primary but more often secondary forest on swampy to dry soil, along rivers but also on podzolized sands, in savannas and lalang grassland vegetation. A conspicuous element of early secondary forest on waste lands and poor soils.
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Light to rather dense, often secondary forests on swampy to dry soil, on muddy riverbanks, podsolized sand, sometimes in savannahs and lalang fields, 0-2000 m.
Growing in primary and secondary forest in swampyand well-drained soils, on riverbanks, at altitudes under 100 m.
Uses. The soft to moderately hard timber is used for construction and as firewood. Decoctions of the leaves, bark, and roots play a role in Malayan medicine, mainly as tonics (see BURK. Dict. 1935 996 ); in the Philippines the bark and the flowers are used as an antidote for snake bites.
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