Andrographis paniculata is a raw herb and a very bitter and cold medicinal plant.

Puncture lily is also known as spring lotus and autumn willow, a see happy, eleuthero lotus, bitter gall grass, golden herb, golden ear hook, Indian grass, bitter grass and so on. Annual herb, 4~8 centimeters long, 1~2.5 centimeters wide. Annual herb. Stem 50~80 cm tall, 4-angled, much-branched proximally, nodes expanded. Leaves ovate-rectangular to rectangular-lanceolate, 4~8 cm long, 1~2.5 cm wide, slightly obtuse at the tip.

Leaves smaller on the inflorescence axis, racemes terminal and axillary, forming large panicles; bracts and bracteoles minute, ca. 1 mm; calyx lobes triangular-lanceolate, ca. 3 mm, glandular hairy and puberulent; corolla white and small, lower lip purplish-banded, ca. 12 mm, externally glandular hairy and pubescent, 2-lipped, upper lip slightly 2-lobed, lower lip 3-parted, corolla tube as long as the labellum.

Stamens 2, anthers 2-loculed, pilose at base of one locule and on one side of filaments. Capsule flat, with a groove in it, ca. 10 mm long, sparsely glandular hairy; seeds 12, quadrangular, rugose.

Growth characteristics:

Andrographis paniculata prefers warm and humid climate, afraid of drought, if a long period of drought without watering, the growth is slow, the leaves are narrow, early flowering, affecting the yield. Seed optimal temperature 25 ~ 30 ℃ and high humidity, to have good ventilation conditions. Seedlings are afraid of high temperatures, more than 35 ℃, hot sun exposure, the phenomenon of scorching seedlings, so seedlings pay attention to shade, reduce soil temperature.

The seedbed ventilation, plant growth optimal temperature 25 ~ 30 ℃, the temperature of 27 ℃ or so there is enough rain plant rapid growth, branching and leafy, when the temperature drops 15 ~ 20 ℃, growth is slow, 0 ℃ or frost plant withered. Adult plants like light, like fertilizer, in the growing season, more nitrogen fertilizer, with good watering, drainage is the key to good yield.