Hairy, erect, annual herb to c. 1 m high, but very variable in size; stems reddish towards base, densely hairy above. Petioles c. 5 cm long. Lamina 2-10 × 1-4.5 cm, ovate-lanceolate, becoming glabrous above; veins persistently hairy below; margin undulate, usually ciliate; base cuneate; apex obtuse. Infl. dense, spike-like, to c. 20 cm high, with numerous short lateral branches. Longer bracteoles 4-5 mm long, lanceolate-subulate with green keel; shorter bracteoles similar. Tepals 4-5, 2-2.7-(3) mm long, oblong; keel green; apex ± truncate to rounded and cuspidate. Fr. broadly ellipsoid, circumscissile, with rounded apex, included within persistent perianth except for stigma apices. Seed 1-1.3 mm diam., suborbicular or broadly ovoid, dark brown.