Prostrate or sprawling subshrub with stout branches ± 4 mm. diam., and up to 6 dm. long; branchlets farinose, becoming glab. Lvs on petioles 5-10-(25) mm. long; lamina 10-20-(50) × 7-20-(40) mm. (lvs of infl. region often reduced to 5 × 3 mm.) triangular-hastate; ± farinose, coarsely toothed in lower half, ± apiculate at apex. Infl. of clustered fls in axillary and terminal spikes up to ± 5 cm. long; bracteoles ± 3 mm. long, ovate-triangular with subcuneate base; margins ± toothed.

Much-branched, prostrate, spreading to suberect, ± farinose annual monoecious herb. Stems ± slender; ribs and nodes often purplish or dark red. Petiole of lower lvs usually 1-2.5 cm long, slender; lamina of lower lvs 1-9 × 0.75-8 cm, mostly narrowly to broadly triangular-hastate, sometimes ± ovate or rhombic-ovate, green, glaucous or sometimes reddish, sparsely to prominently and deeply dentate above basal lobes; base usually truncate, sometimes broad- cuneate or sagittate; apex acute or subacute. Infl. lvs smaller and more often ovate to lanceolate. Infl. of long reddish or brownish spikes; fls in glomerules. ♂ fls: perianth 0.5-0.8 mm long with margins hyaline. ♀ fls: bracteoles 1-2 mm long at anthesis, sessile, triangular-hastate, broad-ovate or rhombic-ovate, usually dentate, less commonly entire, generally with appendages. Fruiting bracteoles to 9 × 6.5 mm, sometimes unequal, almost free or shortly united. Fr. enclosed by bracteoles, 1-2.5 mm long, ± circular, laterally flattened; pericarp easily removed; larger-fruited plants with bracteoles often larger and lacking appendages. Testa shining black or deep brown, smooth.