life
cycle – perennial,
reproducing by seed and rhizomes
stems – upright,
freely branched above, milky sap, smooth or slightly pubescent,
round, often dark red or purple growth habit
leaves – opposite,
entire, petioles short, egg-shaped to oblong, upperside smooth
and dark green, underneath smooth to pubescent and lighter
colored leaves 1, leaves 2
flowers – 5-petaled,
small, whitish to pink sometimes with pink stripes, tubular
to bell-shaped, clustered terminal and axillary above, sweet-smelling
fruit – pod,
cylindrical, narrow, long, seed cottony
