A small fleshy annual herb, up to 30 cm tall; stems initially erect, becoming decumbent, rooting at nodes, glabrous, internodes up to 5 cm long and 2 mm in diameter. Leaves spirally arranged, simple, ovate elliptical to broadly ovate or almost triangular, 2.5-3.5 cm x 2-3 cm, entire, membranous when dry, 5-veined, base rounded to truncate, apex acute; petiole up to 20 mm long and about 1 mm in diameter, glabrous; stipules absent. Inflorescence a terminal or axillary spike, solitary, glabrous, peduncle 0.5-1.5 cm long and about 0.5 mm in diameter, fertile axis 2-5 cm long and about 0.5 mm in diameter. Flowers bisexual, sessile, not sunken into axis, spaced 0.4-1 mm apart; floral bracts rounded, 0.3-0.4 mm x 0.2-0.3 mm; perianth absent; stamens 2, anthers oblong, about 0.1 mm x 0.1 mm; ovary superior, rounded-oblong, about 0.3 mm x 0.3 mm, 1-locular. Fruit drupe-like, subglobose, 0.5-1 mm in diameter, sticky, papillate, 1-seeded.

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Apiole (plant); ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, caryophyllene, niacin, riboflavin and thiamin (leaf)

Used as a warm poultice to treat abscesses, boils and pimples; boiled and the water drunk to relieve rheumatism and fatigue and used in local medicine to treat convulsions (whole plant); against gout, kidney troubles and rheumatic pain, and externally as a rinse for complexion problems (infusion or decoction of whole plant); for colic and abdominal pains (leaf juice); are applied to the temples to treat headache (bruised leaves).