Glabrous. Leaves opposite, often apparently superposed; lamina ovate, 15-28(-37) by 5-13 cm, truncate to cordate at the base, subsessile or with a petiole to 4 mm long, acuminate and acute at the apex, glossy or lustrous above, dull below; venation pinnate with the midrib and the main laterals distinct on both sides and the reticulum often visible above. Inflorescences at the nodes, a raceme of 2-6(-8) opposite crowded pairs of flowers; axis 9-14 mm long, usually subtended at the base by an involucre of broad short bracts; pedicels c. 2 mm long; floral bracts erect, acuminate, c. 2 mm long. Corolla in mature bud 6-merous, 30-40 mm long, moderately robust, cylindric below, abruptly widened, clavate, strongly winged and obtuse at the apex, mostly red below and black above; tube in the open flower 15-20 mm long with the spathulate marginate lobes reflexed 5-8 mm higher. Anther 2-3 mm long, shortly saggitate at the base, acute; free part of the filament about four times as long, usually gradually widened upwards. Fig. 36d-f.
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