A perennial herb. Stems solitary, erect, (8-)15-20 cm tall, with 2 lines of hairs. Root tubers white, slightly grayish yellow, long fusiform; taproots absent. Leaves: proximal leaves usually 1 or 2 pairs, spatulate or oblanceolate; middle leaves lanceolate; distal leaves 2 or 3 pairs, decussate, approximate, broadly ovate, not succulent. Inflorescences terminal. Pedicels recurved to reflexed. Flowers : perianth and androecium hypogynous; sepals 5, distinct; petals 5 [absent in cleistogamous flowers], white. Capsules ovoid. Seeds brown, compressed orbicular, marginal wing absent, appendage absent.

A mild adaptogen, demulcent, immune tonic, nutritive and pectoral (root)

Flora of China
Pseudostellaria heterophylla - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The roots are used to treat poor appetite, lassitude, and weakness, spontaneous sweating due to lung deficiency, palpitation, insomnia, coughs and thirst. The herb is restorative for lung damage due to excess heat or dryness including hot or dry asthma, pleurisy, bronchitis, bacterial pneumonia, wheezing, dry cough, and emphysema. It is also indicated in diabetes mellitus.

Jing-Nuan Wu. An Illustrated Chinese Materia Medica. P: 530, Oxford University Press, Inc.2005.