An erect, much branched annual, up to 3 ft. high. Stem two to seven feet high, covered with stiff hairs, much branched above. Leaves scattered, alternate, lance-linear, lower ones dentate, edges lined with small hairs. Flower heads numerous, small, arranged in an irregular racemose form along the panicled branches. Florets numerous in each head, and very small; rays minute, forty or more, crowded; pappus simple.

Astringent, antirheumatic, balsamic, emmenagogue, styptic, tonic, vermifuge stimulant, haemostatic and diuretic (plant)

The American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy
Plants for a Future

Apigenin, beta-sitosterol, caffeic acid, citral, citronellal, gallic acid, tannic acid, vanillic acid.

Used in diarrhoea, dysentery, uterine haemorrhages, dropsy, gravel and kidney affections (plant); diarrhoea, dysentery and internal haemorrhages (oil)

May cause contact dermatitis in susceptible persons.