T. secundus is a shrub of tropical South American origin, it grows to a height of about 4 feet. The young branches are green and striated. The simple leaves are arranged in an opposite manner; the leaf margin is entire but wavy. The leaf stalk and leaf measure around 2 mm and 3.2 cm respectively. The leaf is ovate in shape with a cuneate base and an acute tip. The inflorescence is mostly in the form of a terminal raceme with leafy bracts. The flowers are sessile, bi-lipped, tubular and orange colored. The calyx (4 mm)is united below, it is greenish in color with patches of purple The flower tube measure around 3.5 cm. The flower has two stamens and a single long style (4.5 cm in length). The stamens and style protrude out from the tube of the flower. This plant was seen in TNAU campus in Coimbatore. It has been promoted as a hedge plant. The flower attract insects and birds. T secundus is not a very popular ornamental plant, one rarely encounters the same.
