Erect annual up to 55 cm tall. Stem glabrous, woody below. Leaves alternate, less often opposite, 8-25 mm long, 2-3 mm broad, linear to lanceolate, glabrous, sessile. Flowers greenish yellow, c. 3 mm long, axillary solitary or in clusters of 2-3, sessile, base with dense white hairs; bracts 2, c. 1.5 mm long, ovate. Calyx tube c. 2 mm long, pubescent, 4 lobed; lobes c. 1 mm long, ovate. Stamens 8, upper 4 antisepalous. Ovary c. 1.8 mm long, ovoid, pubescent above; style less than 1 mm long; stigma capitate. Fruit ovoid, c. 1.6 mm long, black, enclosed within the persistent remains of calyx.

Fl. Per. March-April.

Type: Described from Europe.

Distribution: Europe, Caucasus, Mesopotamia, Turkey, N. Africa, C. Asia, Altai, Afghanistan, Iran, China, W. Pakistan, Kashmir.

A spring annual with small sessile axillary flowers. From 400-2800 m alt.s.m.