A herbaceous perennial plant growing to 1.2m. Stems erect, branched, smooth, rarely hairy, with milky sap, up to 5 feet tall. Leaves opposite, simple, lanceolate to oblanceolate, pointed at the tip, narrowed or rounded at the base, without teeth, smooth or hairy on the lower surface, with milky sap, up to 4 inches long, up to 1 inch wide, with short stalks. Flowers several borne in umbels, pink to pinkish red, hour-glass-shaped, up to 1/3 inch long, borne on smooth stalks. Sepals 5, greenish, turned downward. Petals 5, pink to pinkish red, associated with a 5-parted central column. Stamens 5, associated with the central column. Pistils Ovaries 2, superior. Fruits follicles smooth, up to 5 inches long, containing several seeds with silky hairs at one end.

Anthelmintic, carminative, diuretic, emetic, strongly laxative and stomachic (tea made from the roots)

Plants For A Future

A tea made from the roots is used in the treatment of asthma, rheumatism, syphilis, tapeworm infection and as a heart tonic. An infusion of the roots is used as a strengthening bath for children and adults.

James A Duke and Maryl Fulton. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs - 2nd Edition, P: 708, CRC Press July 2002.