Erect annual to 1.5 m high. Leaves papery, triangular to ovate, acuminate, base somewhat truncate, margin deeply incised, lower surface sparsely mealy; lamina 3–15 cm long, 1.5–10 cm wide; petiole one third to half length of lamina. Inflorescence of compact terminal and axillary pedunculate cymes, becoming open with age. Flowers bisexual and female. Tepals 5, obovate, shortly united at base, sparsely mealy when young. Stamens 5, glabrous; disc absent. Pericarp membranous, dull, adherent. Seed horizontal, lenticular, c. 1.5 mm diam., rounded on margin; testa black, glossy, deeply muricate with radial striations. Seed eventually falling free from perianth.
A herb.