Annual, erect, herb, villous or pubescent; stem grooved, covered with stellate hairs; leaves alternate, long petioled, more or less orbicular-cordate, deeply divided into 3-7 lobes, rarely entire; stipules linear-lanceolate; flowers solitary; axillary or in fascicles; epicalyx segments 6-9, ovate-lanceolate, connate at base; sepals-5, ovate-lanceolate, stellate hairy outside; corolla variously coloured, usually red or yellow; petals-5, twisted, obovate, exceeding the sepals; staminal column divided at the apex; carpels many; ovary glabrous, many celled, ovule solitary in each; styles filiform; stigma capitate; schizocarps 20-40, longitudinally sulcate, wrinkled at sides; seeds reniform, conspicuously ribbed, brown with minute, stellate, hairs.