An erect or procumbent, annual or perennial woody herb usually up to 20 cm tall. Leaves distichous, closely placed and often overlapping on branchlets, linear-oblong to obovate, 5 to 20 mm long and 3 to 6 mm side, apex apiculate, base rounded, glaucous beneath; stipules peltate, reddish-brown. Flowers minute, axillary; male flowers brownish-purple, usually 2 to 3 together, sessile; female flowers white, solitary on slender pedicels, usually larger than the male; sepals 0.8 mm long, oblong, obtuse, those of female flowers slightly enlarged in fruit. Fruits (capsules) depressed-globose, slightly 3-lobed, 2.5 mm in diameter, smooth to slightly rough, long stalked, dark brown; seeds 1.2 to 1.5 mm long, trigonous, rounded on the back, with red tubercles.

Antigonorrheic (fruit and flower) and antiseptic (plant)

PIER

Ascorbic and alpha-ketoglutaric acids (leaf)

The bruised fresh leaves mixed with buttermilk is used to treat ophthalmia and as a wash to relieve itching. The fresh leaves, flowers and fruits are made into an electuary with cumin seed and sugar to treat gonorrhoea. A preparation of the root is applied to promote healing of mammary abscesses.

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