Leaves hairless, simple, elliptic, sometimes lanceolate or ovate, to 12 cm long, apex acuminate to acute, base narrow cuneate to attenuate, margins entire or sinuate, petiole 2-7 mm long.
Flowers in terminal panicles; pedicels mostly 5-10 mm long. Sepals 4 rarely 5, 0.6-1 mm long, broad triangular not persistent. Stamens 8, rarely 10. Ovary glabrous.
Capsule 3-winged, 9.5-16 mm long, 10-15 mm wide, glabrous; wings 2-5 mm wide, membranous.
Genus after R. Dodoens, triquetra means three angles.

Photo: Robert Whyte
Fruit

Photo: Robert Whyte
Fruit closeup
Host plant for Hypochrysops ignita (Fiery Jewel). The adult male and female butterflies look very similar. On top, they are basically dark brown, with a blue iridescent sheen. Underneath they have patterns like flames: yellow with scarlet bands outlined in black, white, and iridescent green. This is presumably the origin of their scientific name, derived from ‘ignis’, the Latin word for ‘fire’. There are also three or four black spots under each forewing.

Photo: Robert Whyte