Medicinal and Aromatic Crops

Description of the plant

It is 10-15 cm tall short-stemmed annual herb. Leaves are born alternately on the stem. Flowers in terminal spikes; fruit is a capsule. The flowers are white and minute. Highly self pollinated. The capsule is ovate, 8mm long, releasing the smooth, dull, ovate seeds which are translucent and convex. The seeds are covered with a translucent membrane, known as the husk. The husked seeds are dark red and hard.