A perennial grassland herb growing to 80cm tall. Leaves entire, elliptic or ovate, regularly dentate; sessile or short-stalked, oblong -lanceolate, acute apex, rounded or somewhat cordate at base, toothed, finely pubescent. Flowers pink, 4-8 in dense whorls ; bracteoles very small. Calyx hairy, with teeth lanceolate awl -like, slightly unequal, nearly as long as the tube ; corolla 12-15 mm, with a slightly prominent tube and with a pubescent upper lip. Fruits are achenes black and tubercled.

Antiseptic, antispasmodic, emetic, emmenagogue, expectorant, hemostatic, sedative and vulnerary.

Plants For A Future

Used for treating amenorrhea, arthrosis, bleeding, colic, cramp, dysentery, dysmenorrhea, epilepsy, fever, gout, insomnia, nervousness, pain, uterosis, venereal diseases, vertigo and wound.

James A Duke and Maryl Fulton. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs - 2nd Edition, P:800, CRC Press July 2002.