An erect, pubescent, annual herb up to 90 cm tall. Leaves elliptic-lanceolate, 5 to 9 cm long and 2.5 to 3.2 cm wide, apex acute, base tapering into the petiole, margins coarsely serrate, pubescent on both surfaces. Florets violet or purple, in many flowered, homogamous, solitary, axillary or terminal heads, with a linear bract near the top of the peduncle; involucral bracts linear, hairy.

Spermicidal and antiviral (50% EtOH seed extract), antimicrobial (Sharma), anthelmintic, febrifuge, tonic, stomachic and diuretic.

Stigmasterol, stigmastarienol acetate, vernodalol and stigmastadienol (seed)

In cholera, syphilis and constipation (plant); giardiasis (50% EtOH achene extract), for treating skin diseases and leucoderma in Ayurvedic practice.

Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.