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Hybanthus enneaspermus (L.) F. Muell., (= Ionidium suffruticosum Ging.), Violaceae, is a tiny herb, with pretty flowers, found in most parts of India.
The whole plant is a botanist’s delight, as every part is unusual in some way.
Hybanthus enneaspermus1 shows the roots, leaves, three flowers, and young fruits (below the flowers).
Named rathnapurusha, this herb is considered to be extremely beneficial to men, used as a diuretic, demulcent and tonic. The root is diuretic and is used in urinary affections and bowel complaints of children. Decoction of leaves and tender stalks is demulcent. The fruit is used to treat scorpion sting. It is a hard task to collect adequate quantities of whole plants, let alone individual parts.
The plant contains some uncharacterised alkaloids.