Minnie Root is a West Indian herb with curiously shaped blue flowers and
fusiform tuberous roots. A tropical perennial growing up to a height of 6.5
inches with a hairy stem.
The simple leaves are opposite and elliptic; the plant only flowers after the
start of the rainy season. It has thick finger-like roots.
The big bisexual flowers are violet.
The ripe fruits, in a pod with 7-8 seeds each, burst open, when they get wet
and the black seeds are hurdled away.
Medicinal uses:
In folk medicine and Ayurvedic medicine it has been used as a diuretic,
anti-diabetic, antipyretic, analgesic, antihypertensive, gastroprotective,
and to treat gonorrhea.