A slender, decumbent to erect, much branched, usually annual herb up to 30 cm tall with an angular stem; roots fragrant. Leaves in whorls of 2 to 9 , linear lanceolate to obovate, apex obtuse, acute or apiculate, narrowed at the base; petioles obscure. Flowers white, greenish, orange or pink in lax, corymbose, terminal cymes; peduncles and pedicels filiform; bracts lanceolate. Fruit (capsule) subglobose, about as long as sepals, with thin walls; seeds numerous, dark reddish-brown, covered with raised points.

Antiseptic and induces immobility of sperm; bitter, stomachic, antiperiodic and aperient (leaves); emmenagogue (plant infusion).

Mollugogenols A, B and D

For eye sores, as an antiseptic and stimulating the secretion of gastric juices; promotes digestion; also promotes menses and suppressed lochia (leaves); to relieve sore legs (poultice); applied to relieve earache (oil).

Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.