Perennial herb to 2.5 m tall, violet, velvety-hairy. Stems erect at first, later trailing or climbing, branched. Leaves ovate to elliptic, to 20 cm long, to 10 cm wide, margins toothed, petiolate, upper ones sessile. Capitula in loose terminal corymbs, to 2 cm across; winter. Florets yellow or orange, becoming purple.

Java

 

G. procumbens (Lour.) Merr. from W Africa to E Asia is a more or less glabrous perennial herb with climbing or trailing reddish stems, entire or slightly toothed leaves, many small capitula in terminal panicles and orange-yellow florets. [G. sarmentosa (Blume) DC.]

Source: Lawson, L.; Spencer, R. (2002). Dahlia. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.