Evergreen, perennial, slow growing, large, shrub; leaves opposite with interpetiolar stipules, subsessile, elliptic or lanceolate, simple, entire, leathery, glossy; flowers bisexual, pentamerous, white, very often tinged with pink or purple, funnel or trumpet shaped, slightly fragrant in evening and early morning; calyx 5-lobed, glabrous; petals 5, valvate; stamens 5, epipetalous, filaments, long slender, anthers oblong; ovary 2-4 locular, ovules many, axile placentation, style slender, exceeding the stamens, stigma knob like or capitate; capsule, woody, ovate, ribbed, many seeded; seeds globose or subglobose, smooth, brown.