Erect or ascending annual 2-5 dm; stems closely hairy below, becoming hirsute above; lvs elliptic, 3-6 cm, long-petioled; spikes in peduncled groups of 2-5, eventually 4-10 cm, the axis and sep densely white-hirsute; cor white, 2-4 mm wide; fr depressed-ovoid or globose, 1.5-3 mm, soon splitting into 4 1-seeded nutlets; 2n=24, 32. Native of s. Europe, established as a weed in s. U.S. and occasionally in our range n. to Mass.
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.