Annual herb to 1.5 m. high, stem often woody at the base, the whole plant sparsely covered with long spreading hairs.. Leaves lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 5–11 × 1.3–2 cm., base cuneate, apex acute, margin serrate with small gland-tipped teeth, midrib prominent on the lower surface; petiole to 2.5 cm. long; glandular stipules purplish.. Cymes axillary and in terminal 3-branched umbels, with primary rays to 15 cm. long; bracts subsessile.. Cyathia sessile, 2.5 × 3.5 mm., with cup-shaped involucres, pilose; glands 4, transversely elliptic, 1 × 1.5 mm., green; lobes rounded, 0.7 mm, wide, finely ciliate.. Male flowers: bracteoles fan-shaped, deeply laciniate with feathery tips; stamens 2.5 mm. long.. Female flower: ovary densely hairy; styles ± 1 mm. long, joined at the base, spreading with somewhat flattened grooved apices.. Capsule exserted on a slightly curved pedicel 2 mm. long, subglobose with truncate base and shallow grooves along the sutures, 4 × 5 mm., pubescent with short adpressed hairs.. Seeds conical, very obscurely 4-angled, 3 × 2.5 mm., with acute apex, greyish black, with small tubercles in irregular horizontal lines.. Fig. 82/4–6, p. 444.
Sandy soils amongst grass in open woodland and disturbed ground; open woodland, often near streams; at elevations from sea level to 1,525 metres.
Can be grown by seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.
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