It flowers in spring and in some areas also in November. The flowers come in raceme reaching over 1 foot long. The true flower, which is purple, lasts a couple of days but the blue bracts remain much longer, slowly turning grey.Studies have shown antidiabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, anticancer properties. Leaves. - No reported folkloric medicinal use in the Philippines. - In Bangladesh, used for diabetes.