Micrococca mercurialis (L.) Benth.

Erect or procumbent annual herb up to c. 50 cm tall. Leaves alternate, elliptic-ovate, 2-7 cm long, pale green, often purple-tinged, with 4-7 pairs of ascending lateral veins ending at the margin; margin scalloped. Inflorescences up to 7.5 cm long, axillary, spike-like, containing male and female flowers. Flowers greenish-yellow with a purplish disk. Fruit ovoid-subspherical, 3-lobed, up to 3 × 5.5 mm, with sparse bristly hairs, bluish-green, drying to dark purple.

More or less throughout tropical Africa. Also in Yemen, Madagascar, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and N. Australia.