Straggling, square-stemmed annual growing to a height of 4 feet with whorls of lance-shaped leaves, clusters of small white flowers and small, round, green fruit, with hooked prickles.

Valuable tonic to the lymphatic system. It would be used in swollen glands anywhere in the body and especially in tonsillitis and in adenoid trouble. It eliminates excess fluid, counteracts inflammations and urinary infections, hepatitis and venereal disease.

Spore bearing vascular plant, growing mainly along the ground. Branched stems are dense with small, spirally arranged leaves. Branches bearing yellow-green spore cones turn erect and resemble small coniferous tree seedlings. Length: Up to 1 meter.

A decoction of the plant is analgesic, antirheumatic, carminative, and tonic. The spores can be used to absorb fluids from injured tissues, thereby reducing swelling.