Herbs annual. Stems erect or prostrate at base, 40-90 cm tall, branched, angulate, with retrorse prickles 0.3-1 mm along angles. Petiole 1-2.5 cm, retrorsely prickly; leaf blade lanceolate or elliptic, 3-7(-10) × 1-2(-3) cm, glabrous or pubescent, abaxially with retrorse prickles along midvein, adaxially sometimes stellate pubescent, base sagittate or subhastate, margin shortly ciliate, apex acute or subacuminate; ocrea tubular, 1.5-2 cm, membranous, apex truncate, long ciliate. Inflorescence terminal or in axil of upper leaves, spicate; peduncle dichotomous, densely pubescent, sparsely glandular hairy; bracts broadly elliptic or ovate, 2.5-3 mm, margin ciliate, usually each 2-flowered. Pedicels longer than bracts, 4-6 mm, with glandular hairs. Perianth pinkish, 5-parted; tepals broadly elliptic, 3-4 mm. Stamens 7 or 8, included. Styles 3, connate to below middle; stigmas capitate. Achenes included in persistent perianth, dark brown, shiny, ovoid, trigonous, 3-4 mm. Fl. Aug-Sep, fr. Sep-Oct.
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