Distribution and Habitat: Found throughout India.

Botany:   An erect under shrub, 0.6 – 1.2 m in height with profuse substrate branches, stems and branches dark violet. 

• Leaves: Simple, opposite, lanceolate, or linear lanceolate, 7.5-12.5 cm long, short – petioled, glabrous, dark violet green above and pale green beneath, main nerves about 8 pairs, midrib and main nerves prominent, on the under surface.
• Flowers: White, spotted purple within, clustered in the interrupted spikes;
• Fruits: Glabrous capsules.

Properties: Anti-inflammatory

Chemical constituents: leaves contains flavonoids vitexin and apigenin. Roots have the presence of oleic acid, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid, 6,9,12-octadecatrienoic acid and estra-1,3,5 (10)-trein-17-β-ol.

Uses: Used in bronchitis, eye diseases, tympanitis, inflammations, chronic rheumatism, hemiplegia, hemicrania, internal hemorrhages, fever, headache, earache and eczema

Propagation:  By cuttings. Middle portion of the stem having 15-20 cm length and 3-4 nodes are used for planting. Spacing adopted is 60 cm X 45 cm.