Leaves: Leaves are glossy, opposite, attached directly to
stems (sessile), 1-4″ (2.5-10 cm) long,
ovate to lanceolate, tapering to a sharp point.
Flowers: Flowers occur in one-sided cymes of upward-facing,
trumpet-shaped brilliant red flowers, opening to reveal equally brilliant yellow interiors that form
a star shape. They appear at the tops of stems up to 1½′ (45 cm) high, in clusters of 2-10,
and the red outer flowers
are up to 2″ (5 cm) long.
Fruits: A bivalve capsule, tightly packed with angular seeds.
Edibility: Poisonous . Contains strychnine.
Symptoms include dim vision, vomiting, dilated pupils, twitching of face, culvulsions, paralysis of
spinal marrow resulting in death by asphyxiation.
Accounts differ significantly on both the poisonous ingredients, symptoms of poisoning,
and the level of toxicity.