This plant is widely distributed in the East Indies and the Pacific, and is a tropical plant that is often grown as an ornamental plant and hedge. Extracts from its leaves are also used in ointments to treat fungal skin infections. In addition, young shoots without flowers can be cooked as a vegetable. 

Grows in tropical and subtropical climates, with full sunlight (6 hours or more), moderate soil moisture content, moist soil, has good drainage, temperature 16 °C.

• The taproot is brown.

• The stem is erect, woody, round, smooth, with hairy twigs and sympodial branches.

• The leaves are alternate, oblong, with serrated edges and a pointed tip, spotted, and pinnately veined, creamy green or red, hairy, some flat and some curved.

• The flowers are compound, spike-shaped, bisexual, with small, green, cup-shaped petals, usually hidden beneath the leaves.

• The fruit is a three-lobed, hairy, red capsule.

• The seeds are kidney-shaped and black.

• Propagation can be done generatively (from seeds) or vegetatively (from stem cuttings).

• Akalifa is an easy-to-grow plant. Stem cuttings should be planted in a pot twice the width of the resulting root system.

Antidiabetic, antibacterial, antidiarrheal, gastrointestinal infections, fungal skin infections, muscle aches, fever reduction, hypertension, treatment of bloody cough, thrush, rheumatism, inflammation, and swelling. 

Saponins, flavonoids, tannins, polyphenols, alkaloids, corilagin, gallic acid, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, steroids, flobatanin, geranin, phytate, terpenoids.