Botany
Lindernia crustacea is a weed, diffusely branched, smooth, suberect or spreading, growing to a height of 8 to 20 cm. Leaves are ovate, 8 to 15 mm long, pointed at both ends, and distantly toothed in the margins. Flowers are borne singly in the axils of the leaves, with stalks 1 to 3 cm long. Calyx is green or purplish, 4 to 5 mm long, with pointed lobes about 1.5 mm long. Corolla is purple, about 9 mm long. Capsules are oblong-ovoid to ellipsoid, 5 to 6 mm long, and included in the persistent calyx, whose length they approximate.

Distribution
Common throughout settled areas in the Philippines, in open places, rice paddies, and disturbed soil, at low and medium altitudes.

Constituents
Plant yielded two bitter substances, neither a glucosde nor alkaloid.

Parts used
Whole plant.

Uses
Folkloric
Malays used it for poulticing boils, sores, etc, especially those caused by forest ticks.
Also used for ringworm and itches.
Malays also use the decoction after childbirth.

Availability
Wild-crafted.