An erect, annual to perennial herb, mainly branched from the base, stems decumbent or ascending, 15—50 cm tall, normally conspicuously reddish-brown, slender, quadrangular or ribbed, taproot long, thin. Leaves are oblong-lanceolate, 2.5—6 cm x 0.8—2 cm, apex acuminate, glabrous, usually tinged dark purple, lateral veins conspicuous below; fascicles axillary, dense, filiform bracts between flowers visible, calyx narrowly obconical, sparsely hairy, 4-lobed, lobes narrow, 0.5—1 mm long, corolla funnel-shaped, about 3 mm long, white, tube glabrous inside, lobes ovate, often purplish-rimmed, inside sparsely hairy. Fruits are capsules, obconical, 2—3 mm long. Seeds are oblong, 1.5—2 mm long, transversely wrinkled, brown.

Emmenagogue (decoction of the plant)

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

The leaves, mixed with the scraped roots of Desmodium sequax, rhizomes of wild ginger and ash, are applied for toothache. A decoction of the plant is used for colds. The crushed plant is applied to cuts and burns.