Erect, branched annual herb to 30 cm tall; root parasite on a wide range of hosts, with shallow roots connected to host by haustoria. Stems terete below ground, square above, bristly. Leaves green, sessile, linear, 10-40 - 1-4 mm, scabrid-hairy; lower leaves opposite, upper becoming scattered. Inflorescence an erect, terminal spike 10-15 cm long. Flowers sessile or shortly stalked, subtended by scabrid, linear bracts. Calyx to 6 mm long, ribbed, unequally lobed. Corolla to 11 mm long, lobed, 2-lipped; tube recurved and narrowing upwards, shortly hairy. Capsules black, ellipsoidal, 4 - 2 mm, 2-valved Seeds minute, 0.2-0.3 mm long, ribbed, brown.

Antiviral

PIER

7,4'-dimethylscutellarein, apigenin, luteolin and ß-sitosterol (aerial parts)