Distribution and habitat:  Found throughout India.

Botany: A small perennial plant with fleshy wine red stems that root at nodes. 

• Leaves:  Heart shaped, toothed and about 5-8 cm long, shiny, silvery above , red purple beneath. The vein areas of the leaves are notably sunken and conspicuous. Leaves are arranged along the stem in opposite pairs on the 1 cm long wine red stalks.
• Flowers:  Small and white, covered by large bracts. Fully grown plants produce flowers but the plant is grown for its leaves rather than for its flowers.

Properties: antibacterial, antioxidant and antielastance

Chemical constituents: flavonoids, phenols, carbohydrates, coumarins, sterols

Uses: It is useful in wound healing.  Leaves are used to mend gall stones, excessive menstruation and as a contraceptive and diuretic.       

Agrotechnology: 

Soil: It grows well in loose sandy soil which is enriched with leaf mould. 

Propagation: cuttings.