Herbaceous shrub , 1 - 3 m tall . slender , with short lateral branching . Leaves ovate - lanceshaped , oblong - lanceshaped , or lanceshaped , growing in distinctly opposite pairs along stems , Stems vertical , woody . Separate male and female flowers present on same plant . Flowers without petals , small produced in leaf axils . Female flowers have 6 red sepals , single creamy - coloured pistil , male flowers have 6 creamy sepals enclosing 3 reddish stamens . Fruits white explosive with persistent red sepals and many black seeds .

* Leaves are used as a medicine for cough and to soothe the lungs .

* Its leaves are also used to reduce body weight and to treat skin problems (khoo et al., 2015)

* Good for improving vision .

* It is rich in protein , calcium , iron , Vitamin A and Vitamin C .

* It suppress the formation of body fat .