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Food- Itsi leaves and seed are edible, however, it is recommended to take some precaution for allergies.
China, India, Nepal, Pakistan
Thrives in understories of Picea forests, along canals, and shaded moist places, at an elevation of 3000-4000 m.
It is hairless annual herb 60-120 cm tall.
Stem is erect, terete, robust, conspicuously grooved, simple or branched in upper part, sparsely glandular at nodes.
Leaves are opposite or whorled in the upper part of the stem. Leaf stalks are 1.5-3.5 cm long and may have sparse glands or be gland-free. The leaf blade is elliptic-ovate or ovate-lanceolate. They have red or purple basal glands with stalks and 8-12 pairs of lateral veins. The base is wedge-shaped or slightly rounded and may be slightly uneven on the sides. The margins are scalloped with pointed teeth, and the tip is pointed or long-pointed.
Flowers are purplish pink, large, 3-3.5 cm wide and deep. Borne in many-flowered clusters.
Fruit is hanging capsule, club-shaped, 2-2.5 cm long. Seeds are obovoid and wrinkled.
Flowering: July-September.