Boerhavia diffusa var. mutabilis R. Brown; B. repens var. diffusa (Linnaeus) Heimerl ex J. D. Hooker.

Herbs perennial. Stems trailing, to 200 cm; stems glabrous or sparsely pubescent. Roots thick, fleshy. Petiole 0.4-2 cm; leaf blade ovate, 1-5 × 1-4 cm, both surfaces sparsely pubescent, abaxially gray-yellow, wrinkled when dry, base rounded or cuneate, margin undulate, with stout, muticellular hairs, apex obtuse or acute. Inflorescences terminal, capitate-cymose panicles; peduncle slender, sparsely pubescent. Pedicel short to almost absent. Bracts small, lanceolate, pubescent. Perianth limb bright purple or purple-red, 1.5-2 mm. Stamens 1-3(-5), slightly exserted or included. Anthocarp clavate, 3-3.5 mm, 5-ribbed, with viscid glands and sparse pubescence, apex rounded. Fl. and fr. spring-autumn.

The plants are used medicinally.

Open places near sea, dry and warm river valleys; 100-1900 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Sichuan, S Taiwan, Yunnan [Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan (Ryukyu Islands), Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam; Africa, America, Australia, Pacific Islands].