Distribution and habitat: Found wild in the Agasthya hills and Tinnevelly hills.

Botany:  A medicinal herb with several stems is formed from a nodose rhizome. 

• Stems :  Slender.
• Leaves : Ovate, apex acute and minutely apiculate, obtuse or rounded, base more or less deeply cordate with a wild sinus.
• Flowers : Seen in groups of 4 or 5. Perianth is dark brown with lanceolate lobes acute and slender pedicels, lengthening and thickening below the ellipsoid long fruit.

Properties:  Neurotonic and hypothermic.

Chemical constituents: 2-methyl-3-hydroxypyrone, Pyranone, Coumaran, Chinasaure (Quinic acid) (9.15%), alpha-santonin, digiprolactone etc are present. Leaf eessential oil contains α-humulene and β-caryophyllene  and petiole contains α-humulene and n-Hexadecanoic acid. 

Uses: Used in piles, wounds and diuretic.

Agrotechnology 

Soil and climate: Forest areas with good organic matter content and which get only 50% of the sunlight are suited for its cultivation. 

Propagation: Seedlings or suckers.  3-6 months old seedlings are to be used for planting. 

Manures and fertilizers: Rotten leaves and dried cowdung at 2-5 t/ha are to be added and ridges of length 2 m and 0.5 m breadth are to be taken. Farm yard manure or compost or bone meal is to be applied once in two months. 

Irrigation: Irrigation is essential during summer months. Sprinkler irrigation is good.

Pest and diseases: The plant is not attacked by any serious pests or diseases. 

Harvesting: Flowering commences within 6 months and fruits mature after one month. Leaves can be harvested at this time.