An erect subglabrous or sparingly puberulous annual or subperennial herb upto 12 dm tall. Leaves mostly alternate, petiolate, the petioles 0.1-1.5 cm long. Leaf-blades variable, those of the lowest leaves ovate, the middle leaves panduriform, ie, with 4 lateral lobes in 2 pairs with a deep constriction between them, and of the upper leaves elliptic-lanceolate and elobate, 2-9 x 0.6-5 cm, acute at the apex, the lobes acute, subacute or obtuse, cuneate or attenuate at the base, entire or irregularly denticulate, lateral nerves 15-17 pairs, ± glabrous above, sparingly puberulous beneath, bright glossy green, the upper ones bright red at the base, entire or irregularly denticulate, lateral nerves 15-17 pairs, ± glabrous above, sparingly puberulous beneath, bright glossy green, the upper ones bright red at the base or sometimes red except at the apex. Stipules sessile, glandular. Inflorescence a pseudodichasium with the cyathia aggregated together in dense terminal clusters. Gland 1, saccate, dorsiventrally compressed, 1.5 mm across. Fruits roundly trilobate, 3.5 x 4.5 mm, smooth, glabrous. Styles ± free, 1 mm long, bipartite. Seeds ovoid-cylindric, 2.5-3 x 2 x 1.5 mm, finely and fairly sharply tuberculate, grey or dark brown, ecarunculate.

Fl. Per.: Feb. Fr. Per.: Apr.-Nov.

Type: Plate prepared from material cultivated at Gottingen from seed from an unknown source (Murray, Comm. Phys. Gotting. 7: t. 1. 1786). (NB. Not all copies of this work have the plates).

Distribution: E. USA and Mexico. Introduced into cultivation and sometimes becoming naturalized in many parts of the Old World Tropics. In fields and hedges: near sea-level.