Stems 2-9 dm × 2-10 mm, from short rootstock with cluster of white, tuberous, carrotlike roots, sometimes with axillary buds that fall and take root. Leaves alternate on large stems, sometimes opposite on axillary shoots, sessile, becoming markedly smaller distally; blade dull green, often glaucous, elliptic-oblong, 4-10 × 1-4 cm, base rounded or in distal leaves cuneate, margins coarsely dentate, apex acute to obtuse. Cymes dense, 5-20 cm diam. Pedicels ca. 2 mm. Flowers often sterile, 5-11 mm diam.; sepals lanceolate, 2-3 mm; petals purple or purplish red, 5-8 mm; stamens usually 10, nearly as long as petals; pistils 5, pink, 3-5 mm; styles 1 mm; nectaries yellow, oblong, 0.6 mm, longer than wide. 2n = 36.
Hedge banks and the shady sides of damp woods. Mostly sandy or solonetz soils, pine forests; as a weed in fields, among shrubs in forest.
Home