Junior synonym: "Eclipta alba".
Found in and near water, the plant has medicinal and cosmetic properties: if colors hair, grows hair back in cases of baldness, and has shown anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic and anti-fungal properties in man and animals. Has also shown to be effective against snake venom.
Refs:
Jiang H. Treatment of 21 cases of alopecia with Shengfa Wan. Sichuan Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1987;5(4):47-8.
Madan A, Arun A, Verma S. A noncomparative open label pilot study to see the efficacy and consumer response of Vegetal Hair Well in preventing hair fall and promoting hair growth. International Journal of Advanced Research 2014;2(2):475-81.
Roy RK, Thakur M, Dixit VK. Hair growth promoting activity of Eclipta alba in male albino rats. Arch Dermatol Res 2008;300(7):357-64.
Aquatic Dicotyledons of North America: Ecology, Life History, and Systematics, By Donald H. Les
Aquatic and Riparian Weeds of the West, by By Joseph M. DiTomaso, Evelyn A. Healy, P 168