An annual herb, 20—60 cm tall, stem and branches hispid. Leaves lanceolate, 4—5.5 cm x 1—1.3 cm, margins remotely serrate, membranaceous, hirsute on both surfaces, petiole 0.2—0.8 cm long, hispid. Inflorescence composed of terminal verticillasters, flowers usually 6—8, forming a globular head, 1.5—2 cm in diameter, occasionally also with axillary verticillasters, bracts linear, 4—5 mm long, spinescent, calyx turbinate, 5—6 mm long, in fruit 7—8 mm, slightly curved, hispid, 10-veined and 8-toothed, posterior one only slightly longer, mouth slightly oblique, corolla 8 mm long, tube with a hairy ring near the middle, upper lip obovate, white-woolly, lower lip patent, 3—4 mm long. Nutlets obovoid, 3 mm x 1 mm, apex truncate, ventral surface angular, dorsal side rounded, smooth and shiny, dark brown or black.

Acts as a sedative and anthelminthic (leaves).

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation
ASEAN Regional Centre for Biodiversity Conservation (ARCBC)

The leaves are used to heal wounds and against itchiness. The entire plant is rubbed on the abdomen after childbirth.