| HABIT : An annual herb, erect, suberect or prostrate, often rooting at the nodes; when growing in water the stem may become swollen and rather soft; stems and branches strigose. |
| LEAVES : Sessile, usually oblong lanceolate, subentire, more or less hairy on both sides. |
| INFLORESCENCE : Heads in axillary peduncles. |
| FLOWERS : White, ray florets ligulate, but ligules small and inconspicuous; disc florets tubular. Involucral bracts green in colour, about 8 in number, strigose. |
| FRUITS : Achenes cuneate, winged, warted. Pappus 0. |
| FLOWERING AND FRUITING TIME : Throughout the year in moist places. |
| This plant is widely used in different regions of India for the treatment of skin problems, hepatic problems such as jaundice, gastrointestinal problems, respiratory problems such as asthma, and other symptoms such as fever, hair loss and whitening of hair, cuts, and wounds, spleen enlargement, etc. |
| Bhringraj is mainly used in hair oils, but it has been considered a good drug in hepatotoxicity. |
| The juice of the plant with honey is given to infants with castor oil for expulsion of worms. |
| The paste prepared by mincing fresh plants has got an anti-inflammatory effect and may be applied to insect bites, stings, swellings and other skin diseases. |
