Annual, erect herb, green or coated with white mealy, granular pubescence; stems angular or ribbed, woody in tall plants; leaves alternate, very variable, entire 10-15cm long, toothed or lobulate, rhombic, deltoid or lanceolate, acute or obtuse, petiole slender usually as long as or longer than blade; flowers in axillary and terminal, panicled clusters, 5-merous, perianth segments-5, sepaloid, ovate-rhomboid, green, connate at base, obtuse, with a strong midrib, stamens 1-5, filaments slightly longer than tepals; disc absent; ovary free, depressed or compressed; styles 2-3, stigmas 2, short; urticles entirely enclosed by keeled tepals, depressed globose; seeds horizontal, smooth, shining, obscurely keeled, brownish black.