Shrub erect or scrambling, aromatic, 1-6 m high, square stems hairy, sometimes prickly.  Leaves simple, opposite, occasionally in whorls of three, ovate, margins crenate-serrate; inflorescence a capitate spike; flower tube 6-9 mm and limb 5-7 mm across, ranging from red, orange or yellow; fruit a drupe, ca. 4 mm diameter, ripens dark purple.

Perennial, fleshy, glabrous, herb up to 1.5 m high. Leaves opposite, lower simple the upper pinnate, blades 18 cm x 12 cm, leaflets elliptic, margins crenate producing at times small plantlets in the small notches; inflorescence a panicle 10-40 cm; flowers pendulous, calyx inflated light green turning yellow 2.5-3.5 cm, corolla dull brownish-red 2.5-4.5cm long; fruit a follicle 10-15 mm long.

Perennial low branching herb, aromatic when crushed, up to 2 m high, sometimes rooting at the nodes.  Leaves opposite, 3-10 cm x 5-30 mm, linear to lanceolate; inflorescence terminal in loose panicle; flowers 7-8 mm long, pink with white markings resembling a rib-cage; capsule dehiscing elastically.

Shrub or small tree, up to 5 m high, with sticky, milky or reddish latex.  Leaves broadly ovate, margins entire or shallowly 3-5-lobed, cordate at base, acute or acuminate at apex, 15cm x 13cm; cymes with or without peduncles; flowers unisexual, born at different times on the same inflorescence, petals green 6-7 mm long; capsule ellipsoid, 2.5-4 cm long; seeds blackish ca.2 cm long.