A fleshy biennial or perennial (possibly annual) herb; several stems from decumbent to occasionally erect, 4-12 in. (10-30 cm) long; basal leaves in a rosette, the petiole slender, usually several times larger than the blade, the blade approximately ½- ¾ in. (10-20 mm) long, reniform to cordate-oblong or ovate, entire to sinuate; cauline leaves usually with larger blades, sessile or broadly short-petiolate, and generally dentate; flowers rather inconspicuous, borne in racemes, much elongated in fruit; sepals not saccate at the base; pedicels ascending, ¼ -½ in. (5-15 mm) long; petals white, 1/8-¼ in. (3-5 mm) long; stamens 6; style 1/128-1/32 in. (¼-½ mm) long; fruit a silicle, non-stipate, oval to elliptic, inflated but some what compressed, valves prominently nerved; seeds many and biseriate.

Antibacterial, adntiscorbutic, aperient, disinfectant, depurative, discutient, diuretic, rubefacient, stomachic and stimulant (plant)

Plants For A Future

The plant is useful to treat bacterial infections, splenic cancer, Conjunctivitis, dermatosis, dyspepsia, epistaxis, gastrosis, gingivosis, gonorrhea, gout, rheumatism, scrofula, scurvy, sores, splenosis, stomachache, stomatosis, toothache and water retention.

James A Duke and Maryl Fulton. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs - 2nd Edition, P: 660, CRC Press July 2002.