Achyranthes prostrata Linnaeus, Sp. Pl., ed. 2, 1: 296. 1762; Desmochaeta prostrata (Linnaeus) Candolle; Pupalia prostrata (Linnaeus) C. Martius.

Herbs perennial, 30-50 cm tall. Roots slender. Stem ascending or erect, tinged red, obtusely quadrangular, branched, inflated at nodes. Petiole 1-7 mm, long hairy; leaf blade ovate-rhombic or rhombic-oblong, 1.5-6 × 0.6-3 cm, both surfaces densely hairy and ciliate, base rounded, apex obtuse, narrowed from middle. Racemes terminal, erect and straight, with 2 or 3 hermaphroditic and some unisexual flowers, unisexual flowers gradually decreasing upward, with only 1 perfect flower at apex; rachis densely pubescent; flower clusters shortly stalked. Bracts reflexed after anthesis, 1-2 mm, apex acuminate. Tepals of perfect flowers light green, ovate-oblong, 2-3 mm, abaxially villous, adaxially glabrous, apex acuminate, with a mucro. Stamens 5; filaments 1-2 mm, united part only ca. 1 mm; pseudostaminodes rectangular, apex truncate. Tepals of imperfect flowers and bracts yellow, ca. 1.5 mm, base villous, apex hooked. Utricles globose, ca. 0.5 mm in diam., glabrous. Seeds brown, shiny, ovoid-oblong, very small, smooth. Fl. and fr. Jun-Nov.

Hillsides, riverbanks, roadsides. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan [Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam; Africa, Pacific Islands].