A creeping, minutely strigose herb. Stems extending from 15 to 30 centimeters, are much branched and root at the nodes. Leaves are numerous, nearly without stalks, obovate, and 1 to 2.5 centimeters long, with blunt or rounded tip and wedge-shaped base; the margins on the upper half are sharply toothed. Flowers are small, pink or white, crowded in ovoid or cylindric spikes, 1 to 2.5 centimeters long, and about 3 millimeters long, consists of a slender, cylindric tube and a limb 2.5 millimeters wide or less. It opens at the apex, as it lengthens. Spikes appear at the ends of stalks which grow singly from the axils of the leaves.
Herb Effects
Anodyne, antibacterial, deobstruent, diuretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, parasiticide and refrigerant (plant)
The plant is used as a demulcent in gonorrhea. An infusion of plant is useful in the febrile stage of colds, and as a diuretic useful in lithiasis. A poultice composed of the fresh plant is a good maturant for boils, to swollen cervical glands, to erysipelas, and to chronic indolent ulcers.
Health Remedies 
Return to top