Whitewort is an erect annual herb, up to 1 m tall. Usually unbranched
stems are finely hairy. Leaves are oppositely arranged, ovate to ovate-
lanceshaped, 4-6 × 1.5-3 cm, margins coarsely toothed. Tiny white flowers
are borne in interrupted roundish clusters, 1.5-2 cm in diameter, along
the stem. In fruit, the clusters grow to 3 cm in diameter. Long
thistle-like sepals give the flower-clusters a hairy appearance. Flowers
small, white tinged red, slightly protruding, slender, about 8 mm. Tube is
about 7 mm, slightly dilated in throat. Lower lip is spreading, with lobes
oblong. Nutlets are dark brown, oblong-ovoid, 1.5 mm, shiny.
Flowering: September-October.
Identification credit: R. Vijayasankar, Giby Kuriakose
Photographed in Pench Reserve Forest, Madhya Pradesh.
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The flower labeled Whitewort is ...