Andrographis paniculata Wall.

Common Name : Kalmegh
Family : Acanthaceae

HABIT

AN ANNUAL HERB. 

STEMS

MUCH BRANCHED, 0.3-1 M TALL; STEM AND BRANCHES SHARPLY QUADRANGULAR WITH LONGITUDINAL FURROWS AND WINGS ON THE ANGLES OF THE YOUNGER PARTS.

LEAVES

SIMPLE, OPPOSITE, SHORT-PETIOLED, GLABROUS, ELLIPTIC TO LANCEOLATE, NARROWED AT BOTH ENDS, ACUTE AT APEX, 2.5-8 CM LONG AND 2.5 CM WIDE.

FLOWERS

FLOWERS SMALL, WHITE WITH PURPLISH BLOTCHES OR ROSE-COLOURED, BORNE IN LAX, SPREADING TERMINAL AND AXILLARY PANICLED RACEMES.

FRUITS

FRUIT A LINEAR-OBLONG, COMPRESSED CAPSULE, ACUTE AT BOTH  ENDS, 1.9 CM LONG AND 0.3 CM WIDE.

SEEDS

NUMEROUS, SUBQUADRATE AND YELLOWISHBROWN.