Annual herb with thin branched root-system; smaller flowering specimens unbranched, larger ones branching from the base, up to 0.9 m. high; stems glabrescent to pubescent, sometimes with scattered stiff hairs and hooked hairs.. Leaves alternate, decreasing in size towards tip of branches; first leaves serrate, later ones entire or with a few basal teeth; stipules lanceolate, 3–5 mm. long, with subcordate base and long-acuminate apex, long ciliate; petiole 0.7–2.5 cm. long, thinly pilose; lamina very variable in size and shape, lanceolate to ovate, 2–8 cm. long, 1–3.5 cm. wide, base cuneate, margin serrate to entire, apex long-acuminate; lateral nerves 2–3 pairs, basal pair reaching the uppermost teeth (or, in entire leaves, the upper 4/5 of lamina); upper surface with scattered stiff hairs and punctiform cystoliths, lower surface glabrous, except for a few scattered hairs on the nerves.. Inflorescences bisexual axillary clusters.. Male flowers 5–10, on pedicels ± 1 mm. long; perianth ± 1 mm. in diameter, 4-merous, with hooked hairs.. Female flowers sessile; perianth ±1.5 mm. long, with short stiff hairs on apical part and ± 8 rather indistinct longitudinal ridges; ovary enclosed, except for the ± 1 mm. long straight or slightly curved stigma.. Achene ± 1.5 mm. long, apparently permanently enclosed in the persistent perianth which becomes slightly verrucose at maturity.
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