It is unclear exactly why this relatively faint star was given the 'gamma' designation, but possibly because it is in the same part of the constellation as Sirius (alpha) and Mirzam (beta).

[11] Gamma Canis Majoris is a blue-white B-type bright giant with a stellar classification of B8II[3] and an apparent magnitude of +4.11.

It is a chemically peculiar Hg–Mg star displaying abnormal lines of mercury and magnesium.

[9] This star has 5.6 times the radius of the Sun and the outer atmosphere has an effective temperature of 13,596 K.[6] This star is suspected of being a spectroscopic binary system, and there is a candidate companion at an angular separation of 0.332″ along a position angle of 114.8°.

[14] Muliphein appears on the flag of Brazil, symbolizing the state of Rondônia.