Justicia insularis is a hairless, erect plant standing usually at about 50cm. Justicia insularis, called Ooso in Yoruba, may be found growing on waste ground or among rubbish in intertropical Africa. Leaves are variable, from lineal to oval, having a very small or long stalk. Leaves could be rounded at the extremity, or pointed, may have a short blunt hair or wholly devoid of hair. The plant could be found creeping too. The flowers of this herb, used to cure venomous snake bite are crimson, close clustered, with the sepals forming a tube like a lance head, pointed, more or less ciliate.