Bai Hua She SheCao

Hedyotis diffusa (synonym Oldenlandia diffusa) is a small, slender annual herb of the Rubiaceae, widespread on damp, sandy, or sunny disturbed ground across South and East Asia. It grows 15–50 cm tall, the prostrate to weakly ascending, four-angled stems branching diffusely from the base. Opposite, linear-lanceolate sessile leaves, 1–3 cm long and only 1–3 mm wide, are paired with persistent membranous interpetiolar stipules. Solitary (occasionally paired) tiny four-lobed white funnelform flowers about 2 mm across arise on filiform pedicels from the leaf axils, followed by small flattened-globose capsules. The entire above-ground plant, gathered fresh in summer or autumn while in flower and fruit, is the medicinal organ. It is dried in shade for storage. The species is morphologically delicate but is collected in commercial quantity for the modern Chinese oncology adjunct trade.