Common Name(s): Threeflower ticktrefoil; Three-flower beggarsweed.
Habit: Herbs, annual, broad-leaved (forbs), up to 1 m high, 3 m in
diameter.
Leaves: Alternate, spiral, compound, ternate, 14–18 mm long overall,
stipulate, petiolate, petiole 5–10 mm long. Leaflet blade 6.5–12 mm
long, 7–11 mm wide, obovate or orbicular, base tapering, margins
entire, apex obcordate. Blade with indumentum. Indumentum hairy.
Flowers: Solitary, axillary, predominantly pink or purple or blue,
very irregular, the floral asymmetry involving the perianth,
pedicellate, pedicel 5–8.5 mm long, perianth 2 -whorled. Calyx 3–4
mm long, 5 sepals, all sepals joined. Corolla 4 mm long, 5 petals,
some petals joined. Stamens 10, free of the perianth, both opposite
and alternating with the corolla parts, coherent to each other.
Anthers versatile, dehiscing via longitudinal slits. Ovary
monomerous, superior, 1 -celled. Ovules 4 per cell. Styles 1,
simple.
Fruit: Lomentaceous, a loment, non-fleshy, 10–17 mm long, 3 mm
wide.Medical use :Leaves for wounds, abscesses and ulcers, also
against boils. Root as laxative while whole plant known to treat
ulcer, stomachache, rheumatism and used as febrifuge.
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