Botany:
· An erect, branched, pubescent annual, the branches more or less thickened and often purplish at the nodes.
· Leaves: opposite, petioled, oblong acute or obtuse, 7 to 11 cm long.
· Flowers: numerous, densely crowded in globose heads, the heads are white, pink or purple, solitary, peduncled, 1.5 to 2 cm long in diameter, subtended by 2 bracts. Bracteoles 8 to 10 mm long, enclosing the flowers, lateral, keeled. Sepals, pubescent, 5, lanceolate, cleft at the tip, usually without staminodes. Ovary 1-celled, 1-ovuled; style short or long, stigmas 2.
· Fruits: utricles, compressed, indehiscent.

Distribution
In settled areas throughout the Philippines.
Propagate by seeds or cuttings.

Parts utilized
· Flowers.
· Collect the head inflorescence during May to October, during the flowering season.
· Sun-dry.

Properties
Sweet tasting.
Antitussive, antiasthmatic.

Folkloric uses
Bronchial asthma, acute and chronic bronchitis, whooping cough: Decoction of 9-15 g of dried material or 10 head inflorescence.

Availability
Wild-crafted.