Winter or summer annual growing to a height of 2 feet. Stems below the cotyledons (hypocotyls) are green and become maroon with age. Cotyledons are thick and smooth, approximately 7 to 8 mm long. Leaves alternate, finely dissected, approximately 3/4 to 2 1/2 inches long and 1 inch wide. Flowers solitary, terminating the branches, disk yellow, ray white; rays standing horizontal during the day, reflexed at night. Involucre hemispherical, imbricated, hairy. Fruit an achene that is approximately 1.2 to 1.8 mm long.

Antispasmodic, astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, emmenagogue and tonic (whole plant)

Plants for a Future

To induce menstruation and was traditionally used to treat supposedly hysterical conditions related to the uterus, as a poultice on piles or to draw splinters out of the body, and can also be applied to the bath water (herb); rheumatism, epilepsy, asthma, colds and fevers (infusion); onto insect stings (leaves)

Contraindicated for pregnant women or nursing mothers.