An annual herb branching from the base, 8–21 in. high; stem erect, slender, puberulous, as are also the very slender ascending branches. Leaves alternate, ovate, acuminate, base triangular to cuneate and entire, margin elsewhere crenate-serrate, in tropical African specimens 3/4–1 1/2 in. long, 5–10 lin. wide, 3-nerved, membranous, sparsely pilose on the upper face and on the veins beneath, dotted with cystoliths above, lighter green beneath, margin minutely ciliolate; petiole slender, from one-third to half the length of the blade, puberulous. Stipules ovate-lanceolate, thinly long-acuminate, up to 2 lin. long, scarious with green midvein. Inflorescences axillary, androgynous, consisting of an ebracteate cluster of numerous male flowers (often about 15) in the axil of one stipule and a bracteate cyme of a few (3 or more) female flowers in the axil of the other stipule, or sometimes female only; bracts much shorter than the flower. Male flowers shortly stalked, perianth after expulsion of the anther boat-shaped with a green setose acuminate apex, including the stalk about 1 lin. long. Ovary naked, ovoid, densely hispidulous; stigma linear, recurved, barely half the length of the ovary. Achene greenish-brown, ovoid with one edge slightly narrowly flattened, acute, tipped with the remains of the style, about 1 lin. long, hispidulous.
