Sesamum indicum

Stem is branched or unbranched, 4-angled, up to 3 cm in diameter at base, bright pale green, finely pubescent to glabrous, with glands present on all parts. Lower leaves are opposite and upper ones alternate. Leaves are very variable on the same plant, 3-20 x0.5-4 cm, narrowly oblong, ovate or lanceolate, lobed or 3-partite, margin entire or toothed, glabrous above, pubescent below, apex acute. Stipules are absentand petioles are up to 17 cm long. Flowers are in upper leaf axils, bisexual, zygomorphic, 5-merous, with 2 bracts at base, each bract with an axillary gland. Pedicel is up to 5 mm long. Calyx (2-6 mm) is shorter than corolla, long-hairy, lobes with acute apices and slightly fused at base, persistent. Corolla is campanulate,1.5-3.5 cm long, pubescent, base slightly bent and widened, white to violet, throat often yellow and spotted purple. Stamens are c. 1 cm long. Ovary is 1-2mm long, pilose, oblong. Flowers have strong unpleasant odour. Fruit is an oblong capsule, up to 8 x 2 cm, usually hairy, rectangular in section and typically grooved with a short triangular beak. The fruit is grey-brown at maturity and dehisces to release the seeds by splitting along the septa from top to bottom. Seeds are flattened obovoid, 2-3 x 1-1.5 mm, narrowly ridged all round, rather smooth, white, ivory, grey, beige, brown, red or black.