Annual herb, sometimes becoming thinly woody below, 0.6-1.5 m high, much branched especially below, grey to green, uncertain whether red-tinged, more or less clothed with mealy vesicular hairs especially on young parts and inflorescences. Leaves variable, the median and inferior rhombic-triangular to elliptic or ovate in outline, mostly about 1-11/2 times as long as broad, 1.3-3.5 x 1.1-3 cm cuneate at base, with a pronounced divericate or somewhat deflexed often somewhat bifid lobe in inferior part, otherwise entire or nearly so in superior part, apex of leaves obtuse to subacute; superior leaves smaller, entire or subentire, elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate. Inflorescence an ample profusely branched panicle of very numerous small laxly spicately arranged dense rounded clusters ('glomerules') of minute greyish or grey-green flowers 1-1.5 mm diam. Perianth segments 5, papillose with grey mealy hairs on margins and outside, each with a prominent green keel in upper part. Stamens 5. Pericarp readily rubbed or scraped off. Seeds black, shining, subcircular, 1.1-1.5 mm in diam., rather sharply keeled; testa (seen under microscope) with numerous rather close radial impressed furrows.
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