Sambang Darah originates from China and Southeast Asia. Its distribution ranges from India, South China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Burma, Cambodia, the Malay Peninsula, to Indonesia. Sambang Darah is often utilized in traditional medicine. Additionally, this plant can be used as an ornamental plant or grown in yards as a live fence.

It is easily found growing wild in forests, shrubs, and fields at altitudes up to 1,500 m above sea level (m.a.s.l.). It prefers shade or full sun, and moist, well-drained soil.

• Root (Akar) Taproot, light brown color.

• Stem (Batang) Woody, highly branched. If scratched, it secretes poisonous white sap (latex). The twigs are noded (segmented), and the color is purplish-green.

• Leaves (Daun) Simple (single), somewhat long, opposite or alternate arrangement, shape is elliptical to elongated-lanceolate. The tip and base are pointed (acuminate), the margin is serrated. Pinnate venation is prominent on the underside. The color on the upper side is dark green, and the underside is dark red. Young leaves are more glossy.

• Flower (Bunga) Compound inflorescence, emerging from the tip of the stem or branch, small, yellow color, arranged in racemes. Male flowers are more numerous than female flowers. The corolla (petals) is not visible, the pistil has 3 styles, which are curved.

• Fruit (Buah) Round, small, 3 segments (capsule), 1 cm in diameter.

• Seed (Biji) Round, small, light brown color.

• Propagation is done by seeds, stem cuttings, and air layering.

Treats dysentery, vomiting and coughing up blood, post-partum or miscarriage bleeding, and skin diseases.

• Shikimic acid, tannins, behenic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, excolabdone A, B, & C, exocarol triterpenoids, and excoecariodes A and B.