It is an erect, much-branched and glandular-pubescent annual herb with 30 to 60 cm height. Leaves are oblong or ovate and 7.5 to 12.5 cm long; lower ones long, petioled, tri-foliate or palmatisect and upper ones short-petioled and narrowly oblong with a rounded or acute base. The flowers are 1 to 3 together in the leaf-axils, often forming, terminal and leafly racemes. Bracteoles are inserted at the base of the pedicels and subulated. Calyx is 0.5 to 0.6 cm long and acute hairy. Corolla is white or suffused with violet colour and hairy outside. The fruits are 1.5 to 3.0 cm long capsules, which are erect, hispid and smooth or rugose.

Emollient, diuretic, lactagogue, aphrodisiac, analgesic.

Sesame
Sesamum indicum
Plants for a Future
Sesame Seed

Alpha-linolenic acid, alpha-tocopherol, arginine, asarinin, aspartic acid, beta-carotene, beta-sitosterol, biotin, choline, folacin, glucose, glutamic acid, glycine, guaiacol, inositol, lecithin, linoleic acid, methionine, myristic acid, niacin, oleic acid, palmitic acid, pantothenic acid, phenylalanine, pyridoxine, sesamin, stearic acid, thiamin, tryptophan, tyrosin (seeds); caffeic acid, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid (fruit); chlorogenic acid, protocatechuic acid, riboflavin (leaf)

Used in piles and a decoction of them is used as emmenagogue, on ulcers, in dysentery, infantile cholera and diarrhoea, in urinary complaints in combination with other medicines, acute cystitis, strangury, early rheumatism, used internally in catarrhal affections of kidney and urinary bladder and externally, are applied on ophthalmic and skin problems (fresh leaves); helps to prevent gall and kidney stones (seeds).

Large doses may cause abortion.