Annual, stout, erect, herb; stem fistular, glabrous, green, sparsely branched in the upper part; internodes gradually shortening towards apex; leaves alternate, variable, ovate-lanceolate, entire, obtuse or acute at apex, gradually narrowed at base, glabrous above, hairy, whitish beneath; floral leaves green with purple tinge, whitish at the base; cyathia in densely corymbose, cymes; stipular glands 3-5, lobes 5, ovate, fimbriate; male flowers naked, many, represented by single stamen, pedicellate without floral envelope; female flower long pedicelled; perianth 3-lobed, minute; ovary exserted, 3-lobed, glabrous, styles short, free, deeply bifid; capsules ovoid, globose, 3-lobed, glabrous or minutely hairy; seeds ovoid-subglobose or quadrangular, dark grey, rugose.