Plants annual, rarely biennial, usually distinctly papillose-pubescent mostly in inflorescence and on leaf blades abaxially, very rarely almost glabrous, with fusiform, vertical rootstock. Stems erect, branched in distal 2/ 3, occasionally almost near base, especially in dwarf littoral plants, (5-)15-70(-90) cm. Leaves: ocrea deciduous to partially persistent at maturity; blade lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 5-25(-30) × 1.5-5 cm, at least 4 times as long as wide, base abruptly truncate, slightly cordate or, rarely, broadly cuneate, margins entire, weakly undulate or crisped, apex acute or occasionally subobtuse. Inflorescences terminal, occupying distal 1/ 2 of stem (occasionally most of stem), usually dense in distal part, interrupted in proximal part, broadly paniculate. Pedicels articulated near base or at least in proximal 1/ 3, filiform, 3-7 mm, articulation weakly evident. Flowers 15-25 (occasionally more) in rather dense whorls; inner tepals narrowly triangular or narrowly rhombic-triangular, 2-2.5 × 0.75-1(-1.5) mm (excluding teeth), normally ca. 2 times as long as wide, base truncate or broadly cuneate, margins prominently dentate, apex acute, very rarely subacute, straight, teeth 2-3, normally at each side of margins, subulate-filiform, bristlelike, straight, 1-1.5(-1.7) mm, usually as long as width of inner tepals; tubercles 3, straw colored, oblong-ovate, ± equal, ca. as wide as inner tepals excluding teeth, apex obtuse, normally reticulate-pitted. Achenes brown, 0.9-1.5 × 0.5-0.8(-1) mm. 2n = 40.
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