An annual herb growing 30–120 cm. Stem simple to much-branched, glabrous to silky-hairy. Leaf 8–50 mm, 1–3.5 mm wide, flat, glabrous to short-soft-hairy, 3–5-veined below middle. Inflorescence: flowers generally 3–7 per axil. Flower: calyx lobes short-hairy, with tubercles or wings < 1 mm, < 1 mm wide in fruit.

Antibacterial, antifungal (plant); cardiotonic and diuretic (leaves and fruits); antiphlogistic, astringent and diuretic (seeds)

Plants For A Future

The stems are used in the treatment of dysentery, diarrhoea and dyspepsia. The seeds are used to treat skin infections such as eczema ad scabies, carbuncles and sores, dribbling urination with scanty, dark urine and burning pain in urinary tract.

Jing-Nuan Wu. An Illustrated Chinese Materia Medica. P: 366, Oxford University Press, Inc.2005.