Gentiana diffusa Vahl, Symb. Bot. 3: 47. 1794; Canscora rubiflora X. X. Chen; Striga esquirolii H. Léveillé.

Annuals, to 30 cm tall, glabrous throughout. Stems branched from base, lower internodes winged, upper subterete. Leaves sessile; basal leaves ovate to broadly lanceolate, 1.8-2.4 × 0.8-1.8 cm, base truncate to cuneate, apex acute; veins 3-5, slender. Cymes lax, spreading; bracts to 2 × 0.5 mm. Pedicel to 1 mm, narrowly winged. Calyx to 5 mm; tube narrowly cylindric, to 3.5 mm; lobes linear-lanceolate, to 1.5 mm, apex acuminate. Corolla pale purple to pink, salverform, tube to 8 mm; lobes oblong, 2.5-5 mm. Fertile stamens 2 or 3, shorter than corolla tube. Sterile stamens 1 or 2, ca. as long as tube. Capsules linear-ovoid, 4-6 mm.

Weed in moist cultivated land. Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; tropical Africa, tropical Australia].